At a recent meeting of the Auxiliary Committee for
Privatization, MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni expressed opposition to
granting permission to El Al to operate on Shabbos as it
undergoes privatization.
Throughout the deliberations, a number of Knesset members
claimed that the new privatization framework should enable El
Al to conduct flights on Shabbos since this restriction has
caused the company heavy losses. Part of the change over into
a profit-making company, they claim, must include the
operation of Shabbos flights.
Rabbi Gafni asked how much loss the company would incur if
thousands of Jews stop using its services because it has
begun to desecrate Shabbos. He questioned whether permitting
El Al to fly on Shabbos would not yield losses instead of
gains.
"No matter what the scenario," he said, "we adamantly oppose
permitting a national company to fly on Shabbos on principle,
since this would result in massive Shabbos desecration by
hundreds of workers."
Chareidi observers have long challenged company figures that
show losses as a result of its Shabbos observance. Moreover,
the issue also includes matters of principle since, even as a
private company El Al will remain the State of Israel
flagship air carrier. Thus its observance of Shabbos is an
important statement of the meaning and importance of Shabbos
to the Jewish people.
