"There's a trend of changing the status quo of Shabbat"

The rise in desecration of Shabbat in Jerusalem and other parts of the country brought about a series of interviews with leaders of the religious parties in the Litvishe newspaper Yated Neeman, who claim that the tendency to violate Shabbos is nationwide.

Among those interviewed are: Shas chairman Aryeh Deri, Deputy Minister of Health Yaakov Litzman, Deputy Education Minister Meir Porush and Finance Committee chairman Moshe Gafni.

Deri also referred to the desecration of Shabbos during the evacuation of the Ma'ariv Bridge in Tel Aviv, and says: "We are in a period in which the walls of Shabbat are breached and there are those who are trying in every way to generate a new situation, a situation where Shabbos is another day of the week. I suggest that each member of the government not to try us and not put to the challenge our stubbornness to maintain the sanctity of the day of Shabbos."

MK Litzman says: "Desecrations of Shabbos are increasing in many cities, including Jerusalem. This is an issue where we can not accept compromises. Our Holy Shabbos observance will continue to be a clear condition for any possible coalition, and the basis for all municipal and government cooperation".

Gafni says that, "there are attempts to break the wall of Shabbos in many places in the country - the role of our representatives in each place is to be on guard with all their might."

Gafni added: "Wherever this there was a united front unequivocally on this issue by the religious representatives which Degel HaTorah leads, Shabbos was maintained, in places in which unfortunately they did not act with unity, Shabbos walls were breached, G-d forbid. It should be emphasized," Gafni adds, "that one place is unlike the other, there are trends, but everywhere one must act on the merits, the principle is one - standing firmly and keeping Shabbos without compromising with those who try to harm it."

Deputy Education Minister Porush said that, "Unfortunately, especially in these days now, the Days of Awe, we are shocked to hear again and again about a serious loopholes in the wall of Shabbos in Jerusalem and additional locations. The authorities should do everything possible to prevent these serious violations of the status quo".

These things are in light of the convening of the Council of Torah Sages of Agudath Israel, on the issue of desecration of Shabbos in Jerusalem and throughout the country.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!