Controversy Erupts in Israel Over Proposal to Run Public Bus Service on the Sabbath
- Posted on February 21, 2012 at 3:35pm by
Billy Hallowell
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JERUSALEM (AP) — In the latest salvo in Israel’s simmering cultural war between religious and secular Jews, municipal authorities in the bustling metropolis of Tel Aviv have outraged the country’s religious establishment with a decision to launch bus service on the Jewish Sabbath.
The effort – likely to be blocked by the government – comes as the country’s powerful religious minority faces increasing pressure over what many perceive to be attempts to impose religious tenets on the rest of the country.
Recent months have seen a growing uproar over issues such as the segregation of men and women on buses and sidewalks by ultra-Orthodox Jews and the group’s non-participation in the workforce, relying instead on government subsidies.
Religious life in Israel is dominated by a strict Orthodox establishment, which wields significant power over issues such as marriage and burial. It typically resists alterations to the so called “status quo” on religious issues, agreed upon when Israel was established in 1948.
As part of this arrangement, there is no public transportation in most Israeli cities – mixed Jewish-Arab Haifa being a notable exception – from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday and on Jewish holidays. But the city council of largely secular Tel Aviv voted late Monday to draft a request to Israel’s Transportation Ministry to allow lines to operate on the Sabbath.
Screen shot of Israel's Transportation Ministry web site
“Israel is the only country in the world in which there is no public transportation in one out of four days, on Saturdays and holidays,” Mayor Ron Huldai said in a statement Tuesday. “We must ask ourselves – what does a person who can’t afford to buy a car and wants to visit his family or go to the beach do?”
The national transportation ministry had no comment.
Public transportation is decided on the national level, so the city has no power to enforce such a move. But should the bill be rejected, as expected, Tel Aviv’s city hall said it will establish an independent transportation company to run the buses.
Israel Meir Lau, the city’s chief rabbi, said Tuesday he felt “great pain and deep disappointment” with the plan and called on the mayor to reverse it.
“This is a severe blow to the sanctity of the Sabbath,” he said in a statement. “The city council recommendation harms the status quo upon which the policies of all Israeli governments are based.”
Despite Israel’s secular majority, ultra-Orthodox rabbis strictly govern Jewish practices such as weddings, burials or conversions and only allow them for those who meet Orthodox definitions of a Jew. Israel grants citizenship to any Jew – Reform, Conservative or Orthodox – but once in Israel, many who consider themselves Jewish cannot get married or have a Jewish burial.
The plight of an eight-year-old girl who was recently spat upon by ultra-Orthodox extremists for dressing “immodestly” drew new attention to the simmering issue.
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whobkhazar
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 2:19pmAbortion is funded by and profited by the Jews: “…The Union for Traditional Judaism, based in Teaneck, NJ recently issued a statement declaring that it: “opposes abortion as a means of birth control, but cannot in good conscience, allow abortion to be made the legal equivalent of murder.” The statement, released by Rabbi Ronald D. Price, Executive Vice President of the U.T.J presents the widely held view of abortion: “If the mother’s life is at risk, abortion is mandated at any time prior to the actual birth of the head of the infant. Once the fetus has come into the light of day, its life has the same valence as that of any other person and must be protected.” The statement continues, “Ironically…to outlaw late term abortions altogether could ultimately be a violation of Jewish law and thus a violation of religious freedom.”
Report Post »vaman
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 4:57pm“ultra-Orthodox Jews and the group’s non-participation in the workforce, relying instead on government subsidies” = lazy, dead beat, welfare recipients.
Fundamentalism strikes again.
Report Post »jay1975
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 9:32amI often wonder why Christians do not follow the rules set forth in the OT. As I understand it, Jesus’ appearance did not negate the old ways, but rather was a fulfillment and verification of the OT’s prophecies. As best as I can tell, Christians all but ignore the OT’s laws because that is simply what they were told growing up and never questioned why. Christians should be worshiping on Saturday and observing the Sabbath and follow other “Jewish” traditions if they are to truly walk the path of Jesus.
Report Post »SageInWaiting
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 11:49amThere is a growing element within Christianity that is being drawn our roots. It seems that we are in the “latter days” if not “last days” spoken of in the OT (Tanach).
Jer 31:33 “This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time,” declares the LORD. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
The House of Israel – the Northern Kingdom – was dispersed and lost, no longer known by their language or the color of their skin. It’s beginning; we‘re studying and learning what we’ve lost, keeping Shabbat (Sabbath), Pasach (Passover), Shavuot (Pentecost), the High Holy Days, Tabernacles, and the testimony of Jesus. Messianic? Not really; we’re not Judah. (Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.) An interesting passage:
Matt15:22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. 23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Jesus was sent to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” It‘s a new way to look at all we’ve been taught. If, as Paul says, we’re “grafted in,” shouldn’t we live like it?
Report Post »propel7
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 6:53amWhen the US of A HONORED God and set aside Sundays as the Sabbath, Had prayers in School, and taught that our Nation was founded upon the laws and ordinances of God and Christ, our enemies did not prevail over us and we had strength. We “rode upon the high places of the earth”, to quote Isaiah, concerning 1) “Not seeking your own way”, 2) “Not speaking your own words”, and 3) “Not seeking your own pleasure”. Since Sundays became Superbowl Sundays and stores began staying open on Sundays, our enemies have overcome us. The ENEMIES from within. Our Govt. has been infiltrated by MARXISTS and Socialists and those who think they are above God. We are taxed to death. We have perpetual laws being devised that only serve to enslave us. There is no real freedom any longer. Our enemies have prevailed. Israel would make a grave mistake if they stopped honoring God. they would no longer have His protection. Are they so naive to believe that they have been safe by their own power? Look around FOOL. You think your enemies have been defeated by your own hand, then you are a FOOL. Remember what Hitler did when you forgot your God and robbed the widow and orphan. Those who escaped are those who did not forget their God. I would bet my life on that. Let insolence raise it’s head and you will become victims of your enemies. Arrogance believing your own hand has made you will bring upon you as such as that which Nebuchadnezzar found when he was made a beast for 7 years, until he honored
Report Post »tamara13
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 10:44amWell stated Propel7. Israel is great because of it’s religious traditions, not in spite of them:-)
Report Post »vaman
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 4:55pmPropel 7:
Report Post »Looks like they took the straight jacket off just long enough for you to find a keyboard.
hopland
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 12:58amJust a little side note —- It is not the “Jewish Sabbath”. It is the BIBLE Sabbath. The Seventh Day Sabbath has always been Saturday, from creation (Gen. 2:2,3) through Revelation. Sunday-Sabbath is a child of the papacy.
Report Post »jay1975
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 9:40amToday’s Christians tend to ignore the laws and rules of the OT as that is how they were taught. Jesus didn’t abolish the old ways, but many don’t really want to look at the truth.
Report Post »tamara13
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 12:32amReligious tenents are there for a reason – they are a compass or a guide for people who follow that faith. The examples given above in the article as to why buses should run on the Sabbath or other Jewish holidays isn‘t out of ’need‘ but out of ’want’ – I want to go to the beach etc…. That is a huge difference.
For those people that ‘want’ to get someplace when public transportation is not available then here is my answer…..
If you can’t afford your own car, then better your skills and or education. So that you can not only buy a car, but have a better quality of life all around instead of relying on the government to provide for you.
Even if a religious tenent or tradition is something you do not believe in, I look at it as a way – by observing a tenet I am honoring all those who came before me who literally lost their lives for their faith. Even if it’s not your particular belief, it’s a way of honoring faith in general.
I am not Jewish. But if I lived in Israel, I‘d have NO problem following this tenent simply out of ’respect’ for the people who have built this nation.
Report Post »Baikonur
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 8:35pmReligious fundamentalism stinks, whether it is Christian, Jewish, Muslim, or Hindu.
Report Post »spirited
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 5:56pmThere is a fine line between the good old days
Report Post »> and the various versions of sha ria