The city of Torah and Chassidus has made its own preparations
for the threats of problems caused by the computer glitch
known as Y2K, or the millennium bug. The fact that the
secular year changes on a Shabbos this year has caused
complications, but they are being dealt with in consultation
with appropriate experts including halachic authorities. Like
other cities in Israel, Bnei Brak is trying to take no
chances. Unlike other cities, Bnei Brak will not ask for a
special government permit to work on Shabbos January 1,
because it is approaching the issue with the aid of halachic
consultants.
In the early days of computers, space was at a premium so
pressured programmers used two digits to store the year
instead of four. This can cause problems in the change from
the year 1999 to 2000, since the two digits of the new year
(00) are lower than the two digits of the old year (99). Now
computers have no problem storing the four digits, but the
presence of systems and programs left over from the early
days in systems that have become critical to the operation of
computer systems that control much of our daily lives has
necessitated a massive effort to ensure that everything is
properly set up to make a smooth transition to the new
secular year.
The unusual name has its source in computer terminology.
Since computers internally are based on the binary number
system, everything is in powers of 2, rather than in
decimals. 1K, in computer terminology, is 2 to the tenth
power, which is about a thousand -- 1024 to be exact. "K"
thus came to be shorthand for a thousand, and the year 2000
thus became "Y2K."
Experts say that most of the western world that is most
dependent on computers is well-prepared, after spending
billions of dollars over the past few years. They expect that
there will be few problems, and expect those to be minor.
Israel is included among those countries that are well-
prepared.
Countries that are less ready include Russia and China as
well as many smaller, poor countries that were unable to
spend the necessary sums to prepare. What will happen there
is hard to predict. The U.S. Government has advised all its
nonessential personnel in those countries, including the
families of diplomats, to spend the upcoming weekend in
someplace that is better prepared.
All the government bodies that have requested special work
permits to enable emergency staff to be on hand on the night
of December 31 to cope with possible Y2K hitches will get the
permits this week.
Some 42 government ministries and other government bodies and
about 50 private firms have asked for special permits to work
on Shabbos, January 1, when there may be breakdowns or other
difficulties.
The Ministry of Labor said that 80 percent of the private
companies that had applied had received work permits.
Maj. Gen. (Res.) Gideon Shefer, who heads the unit dealing
with the Y2K bug in the Prime Minister's Office, reported
that the latest surveys show that the Israeli public is not
concerned.
Nevertheless, the police have completed work on a special
center to monitor Y2K-related problems, which will operate
for 10 days beginning on December 31.
The Bnei Brak Municipality has organized a team of non-Jewish
workers for this Shabbos, the 23rd of Teves (1/1/2000) to
standby near its wells and the central water tank, just in
case. Tests conducted a short while ago indicate that the
city's computerized water system, street lights, traffic
lights and database systems in the educational, engineering,
parking, welfare and billing departments are ready for the
new secular year.
In addition to the non-Jewish workers who will stay near the
wells, Jewish employees will arrive at critical sites on foot
on Shabbos, and one on-duty worker will remain in the offices
with his family throughout the entire Shabbos. The Jewish
workers' communication devices (beepers and cell phones) will
remain open to enable them to receive reports in case of
problems, however they will not answer back, in order to
prevent Shabbos desecration. All halachic issues related to
Y2K are being coordinated with a posek. All Municipal
Emergency Services water tanks will be filled before
Shabbos.
At the meeting it was reported that all of the city's traffic
lights are ready for the bug, including the important signals
on Jabotinsky Road, a main thoroughfare. Tests for Y2K
compliance were successfully carried out at a number of
intersections. Head of the Traffic Office in the Dan Region,
Police Superintendent Benny Peles, told the Traffic
Department of the Municipality that the Police Department
will be on special duty and police will be posted at all key
intersections.
The Municipal Hotline "106" will be staffed with additional
experienced staffers in order to respond to problems or life
threatening situations, cholila, starting erev
Shabbos, the 22nd of Teves, until the following
Monday.
