The Chareidi neighborhood of Ramat Shlomo in Jerusalem is vulnerable to robberies by Arab burglars due to its proximity to the neighborhoods of Shuafat and Beit Chanina.
The phenomenon, which has worsened recently, usually takes place on Shabbos and Yom Tov, when many apartments are empty.
Before Rosh Hashanah, the Rabbanim of the neighborhood published a letter, instructing residents to call the police even on Shabbos or Yom Tov if encountering an Arab.
“Residents of our neighborhood, Ramat Shlomo: Recently, there has been a rash of non-Jewish intruders, especially on Shabbos and Yom Tov nights,” the letter began.
“Many, if not most of them, will not hesitate to confront homeowners and neighbors, which poses a significant danger—especially in our neighborhood, which is on the city outskirts [and borders Arab neighborhoods]. And due to their proximity to the Arab neighborhood, their audacity has increased. It’s clear that residents encountering anyone with an Arab appearance or speaking Arabic on Shabbos Kodesh and Yom Tov should not confront them but must immediately call and alert the security forces.”
The Rabbanim emphasized at the end of their letter that the instructions are meant “only for the residents of Ramat Shlomo, for now.”
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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4 Responses
There are ‘grama’ (dial indirectly) systems that can also be made available to encourage calling even in more doubtful situations. The prohibition of violating Shabbos with these is on a rabbinic level, not from the Torah Itself.
We had the same issue in Modi’in Illit a few years ago. Every Shabbos there were one or two robberies. Residents called on police to take action, but got no meaningful response. Then someone organized a very informal citizens patrol. They very quickly caught the burglars, and beat the pulp out of them. If I recall correctly, at that point the police did intervene, which saved the skin of the two Arabs. The robberies stopped entirely, and I imagine that when accounts of the beating spread, it may have deterred some would-be burglars. I’m certainly not advocating unnecesary violence, but the citizens patrol is something Ramat Shlomo residents might want to consider.
ונָכְרִים שֶׁצָּרוּ עַל עֲיָרוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל,24 אִם בָּאוּ עַל עִסְקֵי מָמוֹן – אֵין מְחַלְּלִין עֲלֵיהֶם אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת.נ,25
וְאִם בָּאוּ עַל עִסְקֵי נְפָשׁוֹת,נא וַאֲפִלּוּ בָּאוּ סְתָםנב וְיֵשׁ לָחוּשׁ שֶׁמָּא בָּאוּ עַל עִסְקֵי נְפָשׁוֹת,נג וַאֲפִלּוּ עֲדַיִן לֹא בָאוּנד אֶלָּא מְמַשְׁמְשִׁים לָבֹאנה – יוֹצְאִים עֲלֵיהֶם בִּכְלֵי זַיִן וּמְחַלְּלִין עֲלֵיהֶם אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת.נו,26
וּבְעִיר הַסְּמוּכָה לַסְּפָר, אֲפִלּוּ אֵינָן רוֹצִים לָבֹאנז אֶלָּא עַל עִסְקֵי תֶּבֶן וְקַשׁ – מְחַלְּלִין עֲלֵיהֶם אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת,נח שֶׁמָּא יִלְכְּדוּ הָעִיר וּמִשָּׁם תְּהֵא הָאָרֶץ נוֹחָה לִכָּבֵשׁ לִפְנֵיהֶם:נט, this is a quote copy and past from Shulchan Aruch.
Clear halacha in Shulchan Aruch:
שלחן ערוך אורח חיים סי’ שכט ס”ו-ז:
עכו”ם שצרו על עיירות ישראל אם באו על עסק ממון אין מחללין עליהם את השבת באו על עסק נפשות ואפי’ סתם יוצאים עליהם בכלי זיין ומחללים עליהם את השבת ובעיר הסמוכה לספר אפילו לא באו אלא על עסקי תבן וקש מחללין עליהם את השבת: הגה ואפילו לא באו עדיין אלא רוצים לבא [א”ז]: יש מי שאומר שבזמן הזה אפי’ באו על עסקי ממון מחללין שאם לא יניחנו ישראל לשלול ולבוז ממונו יהרגנו והוי עסקי נפשות [ומ”מ הכל לפי הענין] (פסקי מהרי”א סי’ ק”כ):
Regarding non-Jews who besiege Jewish cities: if they come for money, we do not desecrate the Shabbat [to protect ourselves], but if they came to kill or come with no presented reason, we go out with weapons and desecrate the Shabbat. In a city that is near the border, even if they just come for straw or hay, we desecrate the Shabbat. Rem”a: Even if they haven’t come but they want to come (Or Zarua). There is one who says that in our times, even if they come for money, we desecrate the Shabbat, because if we do not allow them to plunder the money, they will kill, and so it becomes a case of saving life. (In any event, everything is according to the situation(Piskei Mahara’i Chapter 156).)