As a show of support for the fight against those who seek to
uproot Shabbos in Eretz Hakodesh, maranan verabonon
offered words of encouragement to the action committee set up
to organize a mass demonstration in Tel Aviv to strengthen
Shabbos in Eretz Hakodesh and to combat blatant Shabbos
desecration at malls, roadside stores and outlets
specifically aimed to maximize Shabbos sales turnover.
Headed by businessman and philanthropist Rabbi Refoel
Halperin the committee members recently visited gedolei
Yisroel, including Maran HaRav Eliashiv and the Admor of
Gur. During these visits Rabbi Halperin surveyed the broad
range of activities in the war against Shabbos desecration
and the action committee working in coordination and as part
of the steering committee under the oversight of maranan
verabonon shlita.
The special steering committee held a meeting in Jerusalem
Monday night attended by Rav Hillel Weinberg, Rav Amir
Krispal, Committee Secretary Rabbi Yitzchok Goldknopf and
philanthropist Rabbi Refoel Halperin. During the meeting
reports were heard about unprecedented anticipation following
the blessings gedolei Yisroel extended to the event
organizers and their intentions to participate at the big
event for the honor of Shabbos Kodesh.
Every day numerous ideas are raised along with mounting hopes
that the gathering will provide a tremendous springboard for
the struggle against Shabbos desecration around the country.
The committee decided to present ideas raised to maranan
verabonon, including the details of the event
preparations.
At the meeting Rabbi Halperin said that a nationwide survey
would be conducted to ascertain the number of Jews in favor
of Shabbos observance, including nonobservant Jews. The
action committee announced it would send around a petition
among the nonobservant under the motto "Shabbos Menuchoh."
Rav Weinberg suggested a plan of action should be prepared
for after the gathering with Shabbos volunteers in every
location to be in charge of activities to strengthen Shabbos
observance, such as cars with loudspeakers announcing candle-
lighting time.
At the end of the meeting it was decided that the steering
committee would convene regularly during the coming weeks to
allow committee members to closely survey the plans and
activities for the sake of the Shabbos.
Gedolei Yisroel encouraged Rabbi Halperin in his
efforts, noting the mesirus nefesh of all of his
fellow combatants for the sake of Shabbos Kodesh in Eretz
Hakodesh, the sign HaKodosh Boruch Hu placed between
Him and Bnei Yisroel.
They spoke of the importance of the decision to work in full
cooperation with Vaad HaRabbonim Lemaan HaShabbos Be'eretz
Hakodesh toward which end the steering committee was set up
to prepare for the large gathering in Tel Aviv, which is
expected to draw participants from the entire spectrum of the
Shabbos observant public.
