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Jerusalem - I Told the Mayor: Barakat equals Shabbat |
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Jerusalem - What’s behind Nir Barakat’s decision to close the Safra parking structure? Mayor pro tem Kobi Kachlon tells Radio Kol Chai: “I met the Mayor this week and told him, ‘[the Hebrew word] Barakat [numerically] equals [the Hebrew word] Shabbat—so protect it.’ ” [702]
In a Friday afternoon interview on Radio Kol Chai, Jerusalem replacement mayor the Hon. Kobi Kachlon discussed Mayor Nir Barakat’s decision to close the Safra Square parking structure and thus close the ongoing saga.
“Shabbat belongs to everyone, to the entire Jewish nation,” Kachlon said to host Mordechai Lavi. “Observing Shabbat is important, and opening the parking lot [actually] sprung from a police request due to security reasons,” he explained. “There was never any request here by the city of Jerusalem to open the lot.”
Has Kachlon gotten any angry comments?
“The community circles I move in are traditional. The most important thing to us in Jerusalem is Jewish national integrity and Jerusalem’s integrity, brotherhood and friendship,” says Kachlon.
In the course of the interview, Kachlon spoke of his own relationship with Jewish faith and tradition. “I met the Mayor this week and told him, ‘[the Hebrew word] Barakat [numerically] equals [the Hebrew word] Shabbat—so protect it.’ ”
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Read Comments (17) — Post Yours »
1
Jun 12, 2009 at 11:25 AM thinker Says:
I guess sometimes you need to use a cute chuchmele to get things solved. very happy that this issue is over.
2
Jun 12, 2009 at 11:44 AM Anonymous Says:
wat ever issue there was eith opening up a parking area on shabbos. it should have been handle differently. the pics of the fighting was not a nice sight to see. we have enough people who hate us. there should have not been such a fight over a parking lot. yes its jerusalm and a jewish country. but there are many none jews who come to israel who need place to park.
3
Jun 12, 2009 at 11:30 AM Chaim B. Says:
Let's hope this sttles in a good way. I'm happy they closed this parking for shabbes.
This should be for an expample for the entire israel
4
Jun 12, 2009 at 12:44 PM Milhouse Says:
“ wat ever issue there was eith opening up a parking area on shabbos. it should have been handle differently. the pics of the fighting was not a nice sight to see. we have enough people who hate us. there should have not been such a fight over a parking lot. yes its jerusalm and a jewish country. but there are many none jews who come to israel who need place to park. ”
And if there were some way to tell that all, or even most, of the drivers using this parking lot were not Jewish, there wouldn't be a problem. But you know very well that that's not the case.
5
Jun 12, 2009 at 12:41 PM Anonymous Says:
In a democracy such as EY, the needs of the majority must prevail. Barkat is seeking to find a compromise that takes into account the sensitivities of the hareidim as much as possible. But ultimately, Yersushalayim will not be shut down on shabbos since that is what the majority of the citizens want as expressed in their vote for a secular mayor. If the hareidim won't compromise, then they should expect to pay the consequences if they again allow even a small minority of their bochurim to act like thugs.
6
Jun 12, 2009 at 01:19 PM Shmiras Shabbos Says:
The demonstartions were made because they objected to a non-jew desecrating Shabbos for a jew.
Veka haben shoel. This week the religious newspapers were full of pictures taken at the demonstraion on the holy Shabbos.
If these pictures were taken by Jews why are we using them? Milk that was milked on Shabbos does not get a hechsher from the Eida Hachareidis.
If they were takne by a non-jew then why was taking pictures by a nonjew perimissible and the parking lot not permissible?
The same question could be asked when everyone objected to ElAl flying on Shabbos. At the same time Israir was flying on Shabbos in Israel to Eilat. Egged was driving outside of Yerushalyim. Nobody boycotted them.
The same people behind these boycotts used Egged to bring people to their weddings and tishim.
Is Shabbos only in certain areas and for certain comapnies?
7
Jun 12, 2009 at 01:10 PM Anonymous Says:
“ And if there were some way to tell that all, or even most, of the drivers using this parking lot were not Jewish, there wouldn't be a problem. But you know very well that that's not the case. ”
This issue is not whether or not the drivers are yidden; Driving on shabbos is legal in EY as much as you or I might believe that yidden are required to shomer shabbos. The police must enforce the law, not halacha. The people of Yerushalayim elected a mayor in who has tried to balance the views of the different groups and show respect for each side. Ultimately, he must enforce the law and the law today allows driving and parking on shabbos in most areas of the city. If the hareidim want to change the law, they clearly have the political numbers to do so if they don't marginalize their voting blocks in petty rivalries. Until then, if they are offended yidden driving, then don't go out of your way to stand around the parking lot and start trouble.
8
Jun 12, 2009 at 03:09 PM Milhouse Says:
“ This issue is not whether or not the drivers are yidden; Driving on shabbos is legal in EY as much as you or I might believe that yidden are required to shomer shabbos. The police must enforce the law, not halacha. The people of Yerushalayim elected a mayor in who has tried to balance the views of the different groups and show respect for each side. Ultimately, he must enforce the law and the law today allows driving and parking on shabbos in most areas of the city. If the hareidim want to change the law, they clearly have the political numbers to do so if they don't marginalize their voting blocks in petty rivalries. Until then, if they are offended yidden driving, then don't go out of your way to stand around the parking lot and start trouble. ”
Nothing forces the mayor to open the parking lot if he doesn't want to. And nothing forces the police not to obey halacha if they wanted to. They CHOOSE not to.
9
Jun 12, 2009 at 03:06 PM Milhouse Says:
“ In a democracy such as EY, the needs of the majority must prevail. Barkat is seeking to find a compromise that takes into account the sensitivities of the hareidim as much as possible. But ultimately, Yersushalayim will not be shut down on shabbos since that is what the majority of the citizens want as expressed in their vote for a secular mayor. If the hareidim won't compromise, then they should expect to pay the consequences if they again allow even a small minority of their bochurim to act like thugs. ”
Why should the majority prevail? What's so great about democracy, if it goes against God's law?
10
Jun 12, 2009 at 03:03 PM Rippin Pinchas Says:
He should have to Barakat that B"GZ (the Israeli Supreme Court) is the gematreya of Haman
11
Jun 12, 2009 at 03:41 PM Tuvia Says:
“ Why should the majority prevail? What's so great about democracy, if it goes against God's law? ”
In theory you are correct. What #9 is saying that most of Yerushalyim HAS unfortunately Chilul Shabbos. Had those who opposed Porush not pushed their poilitical agenda the chareidim would have had the control of Yerushalayim and we would not have any problems.
Now the one who put Barakt in office decided to send his followers to demonstrate this Shabbos (had they not decided to close the parking lot).. He should not have opposed Porush whether or not he likes him or not. Tovas haklal is more important.
If the chilul Shabbos really bothers everyone why is it that they allow any chillul Shabbos? The cars come right up to the begining of Geula. Right up to Bayon and Belz girls school.. They go down Rhechov Yimiyahu. Only by the parking lot is is forbidden?
Why are playing pick and choose? The same as #6 pointed out regarding pictures and transportation.
It quite obvious that certain chilul Shabbos is permitted and certain is forbidden. We simple people just cannot discern the difference.
12
Jun 12, 2009 at 05:29 PM Anonymous Says:
“ Why should the majority prevail? What's so great about democracy, if it goes against God's law? ”
Because, as Churchill said "Democracy is the worst form of government except for all the others."
Are you seriously suggesting that the police carry say a Milhouse notated Schulchan Aruch around with them and enforce it on the Beltz, Ger or Modern Orthodox? Not even Monty Python could come up with something so laughable or absurd!
13
Jun 13, 2009 at 03:41 PM moish Says:
“ Because, as Churchill said "Democracy is the worst form of government except for all the others."
Are you seriously suggesting that the police carry say a Milhouse notated Schulchan Aruch around with them and enforce it on the Beltz, Ger or Modern Orthodox? Not even Monty Python could come up with something so laughable or absurd! ”
If we weren't in golus then yes, the police should enforce the shulchan oruch on everybody as it says in the torah "shoftim veshotrim titen lecho etc"
14
Jun 13, 2009 at 03:14 PM moish Says:
“ The demonstartions were made because they objected to a non-jew desecrating Shabbos for a jew.
Veka haben shoel. This week the religious newspapers were full of pictures taken at the demonstraion on the holy Shabbos.
If these pictures were taken by Jews why are we using them? Milk that was milked on Shabbos does not get a hechsher from the Eida Hachareidis.
If they were takne by a non-jew then why was taking pictures by a nonjew perimissible and the parking lot not permissible?
The same question could be asked when everyone objected to ElAl flying on Shabbos. At the same time Israir was flying on Shabbos in Israel to Eilat. Egged was driving outside of Yerushalyim. Nobody boycotted them.
The same people behind these boycotts used Egged to bring people to their weddings and tishim.
Is Shabbos only in certain areas and for certain comapnies?
”
The difference between the different cases you have mentioned is simple, the chareidim only protest when they have a chance of achieving something, usually this is the case when they are protesting to prevent a change in the status quo.
15
Jun 13, 2009 at 09:35 PM ari Says:
Reply to #6 the problem isnt the way the parking lot was operated (by non jews) rather the fact that its a municipal owned parking lot and was offering free parking on shabbos , which encourages chillul shabbos from all over the country.
16
Jun 14, 2009 at 04:54 AM Anonymous Says:
Millhouse is right on about this one. #13 Galus is no excuse for the many violations of the Torah. ESPECIALLY in Jerusalem!
17
Jun 14, 2009 at 03:21 AM Milhouse Says:
“ Because, as Churchill said "Democracy is the worst form of government except for all the others."
Are you seriously suggesting that the police carry say a Milhouse notated Schulchan Aruch around with them and enforce it on the Beltz, Ger or Modern Orthodox? Not even Monty Python could come up with something so laughable or absurd! ”
No, I'm suggesting that if the reason the parking lot must be opened is to preserve democracy, then too bad for democracy. And are you suggesting that there is some shulchan aruch, somewhere, that DOES permit driving on Shabbos? This isn't something subject to dispute and a variety of opinions; nobody at all permits it. So what would be so bad if the city decided not to accommodate those who defy God's law?