A delegation of rabbonim and educators gathered at the home of HaRav
Yosef Sholom Eliashiv shlita to seek his guidance and
instructions — as bein hazmanim and the organizing period
for schools' summer activities get under way — on guidelines
about patronizing vacation spots and leisure sites that do not keep
Shabbos.
The delegation included HaRav Hillel Weinberg, the rosh yeshiva of
Yeshivas Eish HaTorah representing Vaadas HaRabbonim Lemaan Kedushas
haShabbos, HaRav Yisroel Goelman, rov of Kehillas Shaarei Tvunoh in
Ramot and one of the rabbonim at the Merkaz Beis Yaakov Seminary, and
Rav Yeshayohu Lieberman, director of the Merkaz Beis Yaakov network
and the Esnachto organization, representing the directors of the
seminaries.
These rabbonim discussed with Maran the fact that until now the
public, as well as seminaries and other educational institutions, had
been instructed not to visit places that desecrate Shabbos, but now
that the chareidi public has grown and unfortunately the major sites
in the country desecrate Shabbos while those that do keep Shabbos
cannot accommodate the larger groups. Thus if they stand firm in not
going to places that desecrate Shabbos, trips and weekends of the
major schools may have to be canceled, despite their vital importance
in maintaining a proper framework for students during the summer.
When presented with the dilemma, HaRav Eliashiv said, "Since a
directive not to visit places that desecrate Shabbos has been
established and it is widely known that this is to keep a distance
from ugly and unseemly things, this wall should not be breached by
contravening the takonoh in any way."
The rabbonim then pointed out that having schools and seminaries
arrange summer programs to safeguard girls is also an important
takonoh and if they are not in these programs they could spend
their time at other, unsuitable places. "Since we are in a state of
war against those who breach the walls of Shabbos," replied Maran, "we
must continue with the battle, which is more important than this
concern, and not allow breaches in a time of war to uphold the
sanctity of Shabbos."
"Even in the case of a place that is not publicly known to be a
Shabbos desecrater," he continued, "if we know that Shabbos
desecration takes place there, `ein tevunoh ve'ein chochmoh'
— and it should not be patronized."
The rabbonim then inquired about a site that will remain open on
Shabbos regardless, since the relatively small number of chareidi
visitors will not encourage the management to close their doors on
Shabbos, HaRav Eliashiv said no such distinction should be made. "We
cannot consent to allowing them to visit a place that desecrates
Shabbos. The very fact that this place desecrates Shabbos constitutes
a breach in the walls of Shabbos, and therefore it should not be
patronized."
The members of Vaadas HaRabbonim Lemaan Kedushas haShabbos issued a
call to the public to check in advance whether places they plan to
visit keep Shabbos, in order to buttress kovod Shabbos and
kovod Shomayim, and not to cause the chilul Hashem
caused by patronizing these businesses. Information on places that
keep Shabbos can be obtained by calling 02-540-1990 or 052-761-
1834.
