Jerusalem Councilman Aryeh King sent a sharply worded letter to his chareidi colleagues serving on the Jerusalem Council in which he has harsh words for Degel Hatorah party leader Moshe Gafne, who last week attacked the chareidi advisors to Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat and Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav; basically hanging them out to dry.

King, a member of the dati leumi community and Eretz Yisrael activist speaks of Gafne’s incitement vis-à-vis the mayoral advisors. He explains “I am no longer able to remain silent”, explaining that about ten days ago members of the city council warned of how Kedushas Shabbos was being trampled and the absence of tranquility between the different sectors in Independence Park and Kiryat Yovel. At that time he laments, the chareidi voices in Jerusalem and Knesset remained silent and he questions how this was permitted to pass quietly and now there is a storm.

He adds that while he backs Gafne’s criticism regarding mayoral advisors, he does not understand why Gafne remains silent while the mayor and his backers are turning Yerushalayim into a secular city chas v’sholom. King adds that instead of an attack from all fronts to protect Shabbos in Yerushalayim, there are those who prefer to send an SMS or WhatsApp message and in an extreme case, even an email as a symbolic effort on behalf of Shabbos. “This is nothing more than a fig leaf to cover the nakedness of those too afraid to come out openly and say what has to be said, King exclaims”.

He added everyone is aware of those who are involved in deal-making and securing funds for a talmid torah or a particular neighborhood and then remain silent and roll their eyes as the city continues to trample the holiness of the city and Shabbos Kodesh.

King emphasizes his willingness to work with anyone from the Shomer Shabbos camp regardless of affiliation towards preserving Kedushas Yerushalayim and Shabbos, calling for cooperation from the dati leumi and chareidi parties alike and to become increasingly active in combating ongoing efforts to amend the Shabbos status quo in favor of secularism. He laments that during his 33 months serving on the council the level of Shabbos and kedusha in the city has waned measurably and this is visible to all and it is time to awaken before it is too late.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)