Will Newly Renovated Soccer Field In Ramot Stay Open On Shabbos?

New storm brewing in Yerushalayim: In light of the ongoing struggle over Shabbos in the public domain in Yerushalayim, "Bechadrei Chareidim" discovered that the local Ramot community center has invited residents for a consultation session over opening a newly renovated soccer field on Shabbos.

"Ramot Alon" community center claims that its holding the session after it received requests from residents to have the facility open on Shabbos.

In a statement released by the community center it says "we have received many inquires asking if the complex will be open or closed on Shabbos.
The current guidelines from the city hall is that it should be closed on Shabbos. Fines will be handed out to those that enter on Shabbos without a permit. At the same time, many residents have asked that we open the complex on Shabbosim"

In response, chairman of UTJ in Yerushalayim’s municipality, Eliezer Rochberger, sent a letter to Mayor Nir Barkat saying "The secular community council in Ramot is holding a community gathering this Thursday in order to facilitate the opening, of a newly renovated soccer field, on Shabbos. This is a gross provocation that will cause tremendous unrest among the Ramot residents".

Rochberger explained to Barkat: “The statement released by the Community center clearly states that according to the city’s guidelines the complex is to stay closed on Shabbos and those that enter will be fined. But despite all this, the community center council members, which have never been elected, and represent a minority of the neighborhoods residents are not satisfied with the current guidelines and are initiating a campaign to have the complex open on Shabbosim”.

At the end of his letter he calls on the Mayor to stand firm by the city’s current policy of not permitting the place to be open on Shabbos, despite any meeting or effort by the community center to have it opened.

Translated by Eli B.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!