The public is showing great enthusiasm for defending the
honor of Shabbos Kodesh following calls by gedolei Torah
vechassidus shlita.
Gedolei Torah from every stream are calling on the
public to raise the honor of the Seventh Day and to preserve
the walls of Shabbos throughout Eretz Yisroel by
participating in the World Conference for the Shabbos
scheduled to take place this Monday in Tel Aviv. These calls
are reverberating in every chareidi area due to the
importance of the struggle for the sanctity of Shabbos as
various figures seek to remove the Shabbos atmosphere from
the streets of Eretz Yisroel, chas vesholom.
A notice headed "Kol Korei La'am Mekadeshei Shevi'i Lemaan
Shabbos Kodesh" and posted on Friday read in part, "In
light of the continued deterioration in the state of our holy
Shabbos in Eretz Hakodesh as many people destroy the bounds
and breech the walls at shopping centers, malls, retail
chains, factories, companies and visiting sites and many
[consumers] are drawn in and fall into their nets and are
lured into desecrating the sanctity of the Seventh Day we
hereby support and encourage the special action committee set
up for this holy and lofty purpose, acting in coordination
with the Steering Committee run by Vaadas Harabbonim Lemaan
HaShabbos Be'eretz Yisroel, which is under the authority of
gedolei Yisroel shlita, who have accepted upon
themselves the important task of fighting the battle of
Shabbos Kodesh in Eretz Hakodesh and raising the loud cry of
the desecrated Shabbos in order to penetrate the hearts of
those who have gone astray and to ensure the sons cling to
the sign their Father in Heaven gave them.
"The Action Committee, headed by Rabbi Refoel Halperin,
Hashem yechiyehu veyeshamreihu, is initiating a large
rally where the voice of our holy Shabbos will be heard far
and wide in the hope this strident call will stir every soul
and every person with a Jewish heart beating within to awaken
to the continuing Shabbos desecration, and will bring each
and every one of us to enlist like a soldier for the great
war to buttress the walls of Shabbos in Eretz Hakodesh.
"May Hashem favor their efforts and help them succeed, and in
the merit of observing Shabbos Kodesh, which is equated to
all the other mitzvos, may we merit the coming of Moshiach
Tzidkeinu speedily in our days, amen, as we have been
promised: `If Yisroel were to keep one Shabbos properly the
son of Dovid would come immediately.'"
A separate letter signed by HaRav Shmuel Halevi Wosner and
HaRav Yosef Sholom Eliashiv, shlita, read, "Welcome
beshem Hashem to all those convening at the large
gathering to strengthen the sanctity of Shabbos and the
observance of Shabbos in accordance with halochoh and to
raise a cry against the breeches of chilul Shem
Shomayim. He who keeps Shabbos is spared from all evil
forever and be'ezras Hashem his efforts will be
blessed.
"And Rabbi Refoel Halperin, shlita, who was given the
merit from Above to be among the activists for the honor of
Shabbos' sanctity. May it be His Will that Hashem finds favor
in his work and helps him succeed, and in the merit of this
mitzvah may he receive all good always."
