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3 Iyar 5768 - May 8, 2008 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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NEWS
MK Gafni Sends Letter Protesting Shabbos Desecration by IDF Chief Rabbi

By Yechiel Sever

MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni sent a harsh letter protesting chilul Shabbos by IDF Chief Rabbi Avi Ronsky, who drove from the base where he was stationed to several nearby bases on Shabbos Parshas Acharei Mos (the day before Pesach), though neither pikuach nefesh nor even sofek pikuach nefesh was involved. In addition to the gravity of the Shabbos desecration itself, Ronsky's actions could have a very negative impact on Shabbos-observant soldiers, who may in the future harbor doubts when he issues orders involving chilul Shabbos.

Rabbi Gafni sent the letter to Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar, Chief Rabbi Yonah Metzger and Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman MK Tzachi Hanegbi. He opened the letter with a brief account of the events, recounting how Rabbi Ronsky, in response to an attempt by terrorists to infiltrate the Gaza border, drove to the scene even though the rabbi of the Southern Brigade was already present. Arriving after the event had ended, Rabbi Ronsky then drove to other bases in the area, also during Shabbos, and then returned to Yerucham to conduct the Seder, though there was no life-threatening need to do so.

Rabbi Gafni noted that this action of the IDF Rabbinate caused extensive bewilderment and a feeling of helplessness. "Many Shabbos-observant soldiers trust the army rabbis. Based on their orders in cases of pikuach nefesh or other instances in which halacha requires they take action on Shabbos, these soldiers rely on their instructions. This unnecessary act by the Chief Rabbi, which set a poor example, has placed the army rabbis, and especially the soldiers, in a situation of doubt when they receive orders related to Shabbos observance. To the best of my knowledge this is an unprecedented event in Israel, and certainly in the IDF Rabbinate."

In his letter to the Chief Rabbis, MK Gafni asks them to take action in this serious issue, while in his letter to Tzachi Hanegbi he demands the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee hold a meeting to discuss the regrettable incident.

 

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