MK (Shas) Rav Chaim Amsellem has released a call to the rabbonim shlita, leaders of the Eida Chareidis, to avoid a major violent protest surrounding the Eida’s objections to the moving of bones in Ashkelon to permit the construction of the new fortified emergency room wing of Barzilai Hospital.

He adds that particularly now, during sefiras ha’omer, we must be that much more aware and make a sevenfold effort to avoid widening the chasm in Am Yisrael. In his written response to the rabbonim regarding the announcements of a major protest this coming week, Amsellem adds that “We are dealing with non-Jewish bones or a ‘safek’ of non-Jewish bones, and the bones may be removed in a respectful fashion.

In  the Eida’s announcements for the protest, it states, “There is no immediate issue of pikuach nefesh that permits exhuming the bones”, stating there is simply no heter to exhume the bones and they warn if the bones are moved, Chazal teach us the consequences on the community of Ashkelon may be most severe.

Earlier in the week, R’ Amsellem made another effort to reach an understanding, quoting a Ramban that states one may even move Jewish bones from anywhere in Eretz Yisrael to bring them to Yerushalayim, stating this would provide a solution that permits exhuming the bones while not compromising halachic considerations.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)