Ashkelon, Israel – The conflict over moving ancient human remains discovered at the construction site of an Ashkelon hospital emergency room slated to be reinforced against rockets has been resurrected.
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The renewed debate follows the apparent back-tracking of the Chief Rabbinate on its decision to allow the bones, discovered at Barzilai Medical Center, to be moved to another site.
The Chief Rabbinate asked the Prime Minister’s Office for a two-week extension before officially announcing its decision, originally made last week, to allow the re-interment of the ancient bones.
A source in the Chief Rabbinate said the delay was needed to “obtain further clarifications,” however, the change seems due to internal ultra-Orthodox politics.
A halakhic decision published by Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv and two other ultra-Orthodox rabbis holding by Lithuanian standards, stated that the bones should not be moved.
The decision contradicts an edict by Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger, who two weeks ago published a decision permitting the moving of the graves.
Metzger’s decision, made at the height of Operation Cast Lead, was couched in terms of pikuah nefesh – the principle that avoiding danger to human life outweighs other considerations – in this case the fact the presence of patients and their families in an unprotected structure.
The situation is particularly problematic for Metzger, who generally follows Elyashiv’s authority.
Sources in the Chief Rabbinate said they have recently met with representatives of Atra Kadisha, a group that zealously protects ancient tombs.
The sources said Atra Kadisha would violently oppose the moving of the graves.
The construction of an emergency room at Barzilai, reinforced against rocket attacks, has been delayed for a year following the discovery of the ancient remains.
Religious Affairs Minister Yitzhak Cohen (Shas) led opposition to the construction and wants an alternative location to be found, although he also said he would leave the decision up to the chief rabbis.
With the start of the fighting in Gaza, public pressure forced the rabbinate to move ahead on a decision, which it rendered after sending a delegation to the site.
Metzger’s ruling to allow the graves to be moved was supported by most of the members of the Chief Rabbinic Council, as well as the Sephardic Chief Rabbi, Shlomo Amar.
The opposing decision states that the issue of preventing danger to life does not apply and construction will only be completed in the future.
In an effort to untangle the mess, Metzger met yesterday with senior ultra-Orthodox religious figure Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, and was also expected to meet with Elyashiv.
The chairman of the Knesset’s Interior and Environment Committee, MK Ophir Pines-Paz (Labor), said that halakhic rulings to prevent construction, “destroy the foundations on which the rabbinate rests, and spell a death sentence for the hospital.”
Pines added that the government and the prime minister, “need to put an end to the travesty and start building the protected wing right away.”
I cannot believe these rabbonim would put the lives of thousands of yiddim at risk on the basis of some speculation regarding ancient bones which may or may not even be from a Jewish cemetary. The political leadership should now simply state once and for all that the distorted views of this guy “Elyashiv” will not be allowed to jeopardize the needs of the commuinity for a bomb-proof emergency facility. If there is a simple way of accomodating the views of this group of zealots than do so. If not, then just let the bulldozers move in and clear the area. Too many yidden die while these so-called “leaders” demonstrate a total disregard for the needs of living people who live and work in southern EY and are exposed every day to these missiles. What ever happened to responsible jewish leadership in the rabbinate.
surprise surprise
from the day the rabbinate was founded it was soly for the purpose of rubber stamping whatever the zionists wanted with a rabbinic “hechsher” no news here.
its just bait and switch to rid themselves of asra kadisha
“The chairman of the Knesset’s Interior and Environment Committee, MK Ophir Pines-Paz (Labor), said that halakhic rulings to prevent construction, “destroy the foundations on which the rabbinate rests, and spell a death sentence for the hospital.” Kol Hakovod to this principled leader of the government…its time to simply ignore these rabbinical antics on matters of public safety and welfare; let them argue about the whether the chickens in Bnai Brak have adequate hashgacha but thats about all they have shown themselves capable of doing.
Pines added that the government and the prime minister, “need to put an end to the travesty and start building the protected wing right away”
The previous posts here are obviously Kofrim. The Rabbis including RABBI (the audacity of the writer to delete the title) Elyashav are well in tune with what is considered Pikuach Nefesh and are required to pass a judgement on this. Obviously all partyies agree that without this aspect of the equasion there is no basis to reinter.
MK Ophir Pines-Paz (Labor), said that halakhic rulings to prevent construction, “destroy the foundations on which the rabbinate rests” is a totally ludicrous statement that doesn’t even deserve to be dealt with.