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22 Sivan 5765 - June 29, 2005 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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NEWS
Court Forces Jerusalem Mayor to Assist and Fund Abominable Event Held in the City

By Betzalel Kahn

Shock waves are running through all parts of Torah-true Jewry after the Jerusalem District Court ruled that Jerusalem Mayor Rabbi Uri Lupoliansky is not authorized to stop an abominable event. Through its decision the court gave validity to a disgraceful event of unprecedented severity that strikes a harsh blow to the holiness of the City of Jerusalem.

Last Monday the court heard a petition filed against the City in reaction to the Mayor's announcement he would use every possible means to prevent the abominable event from taking place and undermining the holiness of Jerusalem. Judge M. Arad determined that the Mayor does not have the authority to prevent events of this kind and required the City to provide logistical assistance and even to fund it. In addition the judge required the Mayor to pay half of the court costs — NIS 30,000 — out of his own pocket.

The grave decision stirred shock and outrage throughout the public, drawing irate reactions even from nonobservant figures. On Monday the Mayor received hundreds of letters of support from individuals around the country and around the world. Rabbonim and public figures called it a provocative decision that harms not only the sanctity of Jerusalem, the Holy City, but all of Judaism and the Jewish consensus in Eretz Yisroel, and represents an acute violation of the longstanding status quo in Jerusalem. At a bris for the Mayor's grandson, Maran HaRav Eliashiv turned to Rabbi Lupoliansky and said warmly, "Ashrecho shenitfasto al divrei Torah."

Deputy Minister MK Rabbi Avrohom Ravitz compared the court decision to Sodom and Gomorrah. "Sodom and Gomorrah had judges, too. Everything was run according to the laws and the system of justice in practice in Sodom. Unfortunately this is now repeating itself in the State of Israel as judges in the State allow events that harm the sanctity of Jerusalem, and this just reminds us of the result of this conduct. Even if it is run according to law this is a transformation into Sodom and Gomorrah."

The Jerusalem branch of Degel HaTorah also issued a statement of support for the Mayor ending with the verse, "Uri uri . . . Yerushalayim Ir Hakodesh ki lo yosif yovo boch od oreil vetomei" (Yeshayohu 52:1).

"I have received much support and encouragement from Maran HaRav Eliashiv, from gedolei Torah, roshei yeshivos and rabbonim, Amcho Beis Yisroel and even from secular individuals who expressed sweeping support for the stalwart battle for the sanctity of Jerusalem," Mayor Rabbi Lupoliansky said on Monday. "If I had to do it again I would act in exactly the same way and this is how I intend to act in every case where attempts are made to harm the sanctity of Jerusalem, choliloh."

In reaction to the court's decision the Mayor said, "Just as everyone understands that this abominable event could not be held in a place like Har Habayis because of the Muslim reaction so too, lehavdil, every Jew in Eretz Yisroel and around the world understands that we cannot in any way help hold an abominable event like this in the Holy City of Jerusalem."

 

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