Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) host Razi Barkai on Sunday morning interviewed R’ Shmuel Peppenheim of the Eida Chareidis and Jerusalem Councilman Pepe Alalu, who has been a longtime activists advancing the cause of secularist agenda in Yerushalayim.
Peppenheim Told Barkai on Sunday morning that the Eida Chareidis Gavaad is willing to continue for another “100 or more shabbasos” — to continue the protests against the Karta parking lot operating on shabbos for as long as needed.
“We are not involved in the political scene, and have no political aspirations. We are pained by the chilul shabbos and that is our pain, our cry and over this matter the protests will continue”.
When asked how far they will take the matter, he stated “we follow daas torah and for as long we are instructed to protest, we will continue to do so”. When asked about shouting “Nazi”, he stated this is a small fringe group, or in some cases prompted by the unacceptable actions of security officials.
…Insisting the “case is not lost” as Barkai stated, Peppenheim added “because we have endured 62 years of the Zionist state and we continue to grow and build, institutions, an independent community, including our own education without reliance on the state. This is not our state but our land. We are not declining [in numbers and strength] but the opposite – we continue to grow. I advise that instead of seeing the bad, to view the good and we too feel that even though we did not vote for him, the mayor is the mayor of everyone and we call for returning to moderation”.
Pepe Alalu added that the years of controversy prove the secularists have one. “Stores are open and the secularists may have a life on shabbos. It is obvious that the parking lot will remain open and while I can commend their protests, their determination, the threats against the mayor and others are unacceptable…”
Alalu added they, Toldos Aaron, lacks unity since the entire chareidi community does not stand behind Toldos Aaron in this battle, pointing out many chareidim are represented on the Jerusalem City Council.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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5 Responses
There are two sides. One wants Jerusalem to be the zionist capital (complete with treff restaurants, hilul shabbos, brothels, drugs, etc.).
One wants Jerusalem to to the Jewish capital complete with yeshivos, mikvas, shuls, people who devote themselves to Torah and Mitsvos).
Take your pick.
#1 Review the history of klal yisroel and you will note that even during the era of the two Batei Mikdash there were always valid opinions—never the black and white that you picture (guess that is why the flag is blue and white).
I’m sorry #2 but why should they contribute? They (or rather we-chareidi jewry) have lived in Yerushalayim long before the zionists showed up! We never asked them to come nor did we surrender our beloved city. we’d rather not enjoy their honey if it means we have to suffer their so very painful sting.
Rabbi of Berlin, you might be called a Rabbi, but you shall still seek Daas Torah with how to relate to the Zionist entity. Because almost all frum Yiddin do not view zionism in good light, the difference in opinion is only how to relate to there existence.
#5, are you really sure you wanna go there? how many frum jews were there in the entire land of Israel before secular zionism arose? no one surrendered anything. there would be no city of jerusalem had it not been for secular zionism. they did what frum jews couldn’t…they resettled Eretz Yisroel. So don’t go around saying we “surrendered our beloved city.” we handed it on a silver platter to secular zionism when we chose not to join them in the early 20th century.