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NEWS
Haifa's Jaffa Road Off Limits to Kohanim
by Y. Arieli
HaRav Yechiel Yosef Bamberger, rov of Haifa's chareidi
community, circulated a letter saying under the present
circumstances Kohanim may not travel on Rechov Yaffo where it
exits the city southward, since ancient graves were found
along its length during paving work and a proper halachic
solution--namely a tikkun tohoroh--has yet to be
implemented.
The problem with Rechov Yaffo, considered the primary artery
for southbound traffic leaving Haifa, has already been
publicized on several occasions. The chareidi public has
voiced its objections through large demonstrations, but the
work done was hard to undo. Efforts are underway to find a
halachic solution consistent with rulings issued previously
by current poskim, but in the meantime the road has
already been opened for use.
Based on a request by UTJ city counselor Rabbi Aryeh
Blitental, a sign has been erected indicating the road is off
limits to Kohanim. HaRav Bamberger's letter explains the
prohibition for Kohanim in detail and writes, "Be it known
that at present Kohanim may not travel on the new street
opened in the lower part of the city near the old cemetery
that is alongside Jaffa Road until the [problem] is rectified
besiyata deShmaya."
Local rabbinical figures are currently holding meetings at
various levels with Yeffei Nof, the municipal company
contracted to pave the roads in Haifa, in search of a
solution. Until then Kohanim must use alternative routes. If
they elect to exit the city via Rechov Haatzmaut in the
direction of the Egged bus station in Bat Galim, they must
turn left immediately after Dagon Granaries and then right on
Sederot HaMaginim.
Rabbi Blitental asked Zeev Sonenson, head of Egged's traffic
department, to take immediate action to alter bus routes and
to avoid placing a michshol before Kohanim. In another
letter Rabbi Blitental told Mayor Yonah Yahav that when such
a situation arises in other cities there are halachic ways to
address the problem, such as building a proper ohel
chotzetz based on directives by halachic authorities. A
similar solution must be found in Haifa, he says, to allow
Kohanim to use the road like every other citizen and to avoid
infringing on their rights.
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