A coalition of Petach Tikva residents including rabbonim,
public officials and community organizers have launched a
battle to preserve the status quo on religious issues in the
city.
HaRav Boruch Shimon Salomon, the city's chief rabbi and av
beis din, has been waging an ongoing campaign against
bringing pork into the city. Petach Tikva has absorbed
thousands of immigrants from the former Soviet Union, many of
whom are non-Jews or tinokos shenishbu, lacking even
rudimentary knowledge of forbidden foods and unaware what a
deep chord the issue strikes among the city's religious
residents. Construction work on a distribution center for non-
kosher meat, Rachmono litzlan, is currently being
completed.
Of even greater concern are the owners' declarations it will
be open seven days a week. Expected to draw customers from
all of Gush Dan, it could expose Petach Tikva residents to
the sight of blatant, large-scale Shabbos desecration. This
serious breach would undermine the foundations of Judaism,
says HaRav Salomon.
Recently the Chief Rabbi held an emergency meeting in his
home initiated by UTJ city council member Rabbi Shlomo
Korlansky and attended by representatives from all of the
city's religious parties, both in the coalition and the
opposition. Religious council members comprise over 40
percent of the city council.
HaRav Salomon compared the present situation to the well-
known medrash about a fool who insists he is free to
make a hole in his own part of the boat (Medrash Rabboh,
Vayikra, 5). He called on all those in a position to help
seal the breach in the walls of Judaism and Shabbos.
The city council members conducted a productive discussion
and had several ideas on how to handle the problem. They
decided to dispatch a delegation to seek the advice and
blessings of gedolei Yisroel and to ask UTJ MKs to meet
with the Mayor and submit a motion in the Knesset.
Furthermore it was decided to organize a petition drive among
Petach Tikva residents while trying to establish a dialogue
with the owners in an attempt to persuade them to close the
factory and to open a facility for the sale of kosher food
instead.
Rabbi Korlansky closed the meeting by saying he would meet
with Mayor Yitzhak Ochayoun as soon as possible to convey a
clear message voicing the objections of the Chief Rabbi and
the others present to the attempts to undermine kodshei
Yisroel.
Another petition also initiated by Rabbi Korlansky is
currently circulating. Signed by a majority of the council
members from all parties, religious and secular alike, it
calls on all who have the power to exert an influence to take
action against the unfortunate development.
