Jerusalem – Chief Rabbinate Committee members held Monday a meeting on the endless carnage on Israel’s roads and highways during which they decided that Chief Rabbis Yona Metzger and Shlomo Amar would draft a special prayer – which will be recited by local rabbis at locations in their area which have witnessed road accidents.
Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
The committee also decided that committee member Rabbi Yaakov Roza, who serves as the rabbi for the ZAKA organization, would give rabbis updates on accidents within their area. The purpose of the prayer is to raise residents’ awareness to road safety and includes an appeal to God to put an end to the road accidents plaguing the country.
Another initiative approved by the Rabbinate Committee is the publication of a halachic document on correct driving which addresses issues like driving when tired, driving while texting and using a cellular phone and driving over the speed limit in order to make it home in time for Shabbat.
The document will be formulated by two of the committee’s members – Kiryat Ono’s Rabbi Ratzon Arusi and Givatayim’s Rabbi Yosef Gliksberg.
The President of the Chief Rabbinate Committee, Rabbi Yona Metzger, who initiated the discussion said: “Road accidents have become a national plague and we must do what ever we can to decrease accident numbers.”
Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar added: “The goal is to shock the public. A prayer like this will, without a doubt, leave an impression.”
What I strong stance. Tongue in cheek. This whole thing is a big joke.
You don’t need to appeal to Hashem. You need to inform and appeal to the Israeli jerks that drive like maniacs. Every time they get into a vehicle its as if they are driving 80 miles /hour in a tank holding an Uzi.
I love the way it says “Rabbi take strong stance”. By making a special prayer. Are you kidding. This is the strong stance. Liberalism at its best.
why do rabbi’s insist on making fools of themselves,and make a mockery of our beautiful religion,what is prayers going to help,when a large percentage of the population,drive like maniacs,and don’t care about their own lives and the lives of others,if someone decides to commit suicide,no prayer will help him,we all have free choice,and H’K’B’H does not interfere in our BECHIRA.
what the rabbi’s should have done,is to put pressure on the government,to drasticaly increase fines and long jail sentences for anyone speeding,that is the only solution that might reduce the terrible slaughter on Israel’s highways
outrageous! prayer IS what h-m wants from us! mocking the power of prayer?! HHHUUMMM ! doesnt sound jewish at all!
The purpose of the prayer is to raise residents’ awareness to road safety and includes an appeal to God to put an end to the road accidents plaguing the country.
it is not god it is people who drive like idiots
A major problem with almost ALL Israeli drivers – and not being addressed, is cars tailgating one another. Car drivers should be ticketed for that.
when i see someone driving in an unsafe manner and passing wildly if i catch up to them at a traffic light it is unfailingly a young person.i would say the responsability should be givin over to t”zal.let them do intensive driver education useing professionals if such exist here.
this is incredibly interesting