Officials on Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat’s staff explain the mayor favors maintaining the religious status quo in the city. Barkat told the High Court of Justice the opening of the new Cinema City movie complex on Shabbos must be prevented, telling the court Jerusalem City Hall maintains the authority to decide if the complex will be permitted to operate on Shabbos or not.
The mayor was responding to a petition to the court filed by pro-secularists who want the court to sanction opening the new movie theater/entertainment center on Shabbos and Yomtov. Barkat’s staff explains the mayor’s position is not new, for he has always backed enforcing the religious status quo in the city.
Not wishing to miss the opportunity to trample on Yiddishkheit, Finance Minister Yair Lapid told the court he has no objections to the Cinema City complex operating on Shabbos.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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3 Responses
Instead of relying on the courts and trying to coerce frei yidden to be shomer Shabbos by shutting down movie theatres etc., Barkat should be looking for ways to make them want to be shomer Shabbos by working with frum modos to offer appropriate entertainment and alternatives. The government should stay out of the debate and allow yidden to make their own choices. There is no reason, however, why they cannot be supportive of outreach efforts to reach secular yidden instead of trying to dictate observance.
Barkat for Knesset! Down with Lapid!
Just doing it he wants to get the frum votes