Yemenite Rabbis oppose 'Teimana' festival: "Forbidden to participate"

The Teimana show, which is planned to take place in Rosh Ha'ayin on Chol Hamoed Succos as on every year, with men and women singers who will sing Mediterranean songs, as opposed to tznius and halacha laws, is causing an outrage by the hareidi and religious public in the city.

For the last few years, the Rav of the city, Harav Azaria Basis, has been turning to the public with a 'Krias Kodesh' not to take part in the Teimana events, and his request is that each person will prevent his sons and family from taking part in it. The Rav's request has been joined by Gedolei Yisreol, Hagr"o Yosef, Hagaon R' Shimon Ba'adani, Hagaon R' Shlomo Machpud, Hagaon R' Pinchas Korach and other Rabbonim of the city's suburbs.

The heading of the letter says: "Severe prohibition and warning to take part in Teimana" which will take place on Chol Hamoed Succot 5773 in the square of the Lev Hair city club sponsored by the Rosh Ha'ayin municipality. The Rabbonim protest with a severe warning, that "there is a severe prohibition to take part in the Teimana event, which is totally opposed to the spirit of our holy Torah and causes chas veshalom the removal of the Shchina. As it is written "And your camp shall be holy". This event was recently born, without any custom, halacha or tradition, and it is forbidden to take part in it. And one who listens to us will be safe, and we shall merit the coming of the Redeemer, Amen".

It is also known, that not only Rabbonim oppose the show - the council of suburbs of residents who live in the streets in proximity to the club, have signed a petition to the mayor Moshe Sinai asking to cancel the Teimana or to move it somewhere else, since Teimana is a environmental nuisance which harms their rest, and prevents guests who wish to come with their cars to visit during the Chag. "Our relatives cannot visit us during the Chag, the area is closed and the police prevents their entry into the city or the suburb with their car. This is a residential area which is not meant for cultural events and one should find an alternative place to the request of the residents, and according to the police's recommendation to transfer it to an alternative place or otherwise – to cancel it".

More than 1,500 heads of families of the city's residents have signed the petition.
Another claim which the residents bring up: the cost of Teimana is about 1,700,000 NIS – according to the data of last year's costs, the residents who are signed on the petition cannot understand how the municipality is making use of public moneys forcefully, when the residents oppose the event and do not enjoy it, and most of the participants are youth who come from outside the city.

The residents also complain that they suffer of the noise made by the loudspeakers and the dirt, until the late hours of the night.

The Israeli police has also recommended to the Rosh Ha'ayin municipality to look for an alternative place, for fear that this event endangers the life of the public and its security. Despite all that – nothing has been done.

Chananya Tzefer, former deputy mayor of the city, who is helping the residents in their fight, says: "It is sad to hear that the municipality continues pestering the residents, most of the participants in Teimana are youth aged about 15, I saw boys and girls who streamed there, most of them outside residents with bottles of beer, alcoholic beverages and cigarettes, who come to spend time at a miserable show. Last year there was a fight between a group of Arabs and Jews, and this makes one wonder".
The Rosh Ha'ayin municipality responded: "The municipality of Rosh Ha'ayin has been producing for the last 11 years the festival of Mediterranean music in Rosh Ha'ayin – Teimana, a folklore, music and food festival, one of the largest in Israel which takes place on Chol Hamoed Succot.

"This is a festival which draws tens of thousands of people and receives a great demand and love among the residents of the city, who come to celebrate together the best of Mediterranean singing, free of charge.

"As on every year, the municipality is preparing to produce the festival in accordance with the instructions of the police and in cooperation with it, for utmost security of the residents and guests who will arrive at the festival.

"The area will be secured by hundreds of policemen and guards. The event passes all the required approvals by MDA, fire fighters, ministry of health and police, which is in charge of the security in the event and is signed on approving the event.

The municipality will make all the efforts so that the festival will pass with minimum disturbance for the residents and apologizes in advance for the lack of comfort. The municipality invites the area's residents to come to the area and enjoy a unique atmosphere and an enjoyable festival, and each person according to his belief".

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!