The Charedi Struggle against Chilul Shabbos: Why and When

Meni Shwartz, editor in chief of Bechadrey Charedim gives a historical overview on the development of the "status quo".

During the establishment of the State of Israel Ben Gurion sought a way to bring the Torah observant Jews into the picture. He was well aware of the charedim we would not approve of the secular state, so in an attempt to involve the charedim and enable us to feel more at home in the secular State he decided to make some concessions. Issues that were of supreme importance to Torah observing Jews would be handled according to Halacha.

The State of Israel would be a secular, liberal, democratic country – with a Jewish identity.

(Though Ben Gurion succeeded in developing his vision into a reality- in some ways his plan failed. While in many ways Charedim, are an integral part of the Israeli landscape he didn't succeed in turning us into patriots of the State of Israel. As a group we are fiercely and passionately connected to Eretz Yisrael but don't have much of a personal connection to the State itself.)

In order for the State to keep its Jewish character it was decreed that all marriages, divorces and conversions were to be handled under the auspices of the Rabanut . And the Israeli government would officially observe Shabbos.

There is no law stopping individuals from being Mechalel Shabbos- but there is a ban on the public desecration of Shabbos. Government offices are closed for Shabbos, there is no public transportation on Shabbos including busses, trains, and Israeli airlines. Government ministers themselves are not permitted to plan public desecration of Shabbos (though no one is stopping them from being mechalel Shabbos as private individuals. )

This is the "status quo". There may be no organized public transportation on Shabbos. This issue comes up for discussion again and again depending on who is in the government. When parties such as Shinui and Meretz were strong they pushed for greater leniency in these areas, and when the charedi parties were in the coalition they have often sought greater stringency in these areas.

So when the municipality of Herzliya announced this week that of this coming Shabbos they will have public transportation on Shabbos, the charedi MK's mobilized against the breech in the status quo.

After Herzliya's announcement another five municipalities have jumped on the bandwagon and have also called for public transportation on Shabbos.
The charedim are not planning on standing idly by and letting it happen

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!