A special steering committee overseen by maranan
verabonon was set up to prepare for a mass demonstration
in defense of Shabbos Kodesh initiated and organized by the
Vaada Lemaan Kedushas HaShabbos Be'eretz Yisroel, a committee
started by businessman and philanthropist Rabbi Refoel
Halperin, founder and owner of the Optica Halperin chain.
The demonstration has been scheduled for Erev Rosh Chodesh
Shevat (Monday January 10) at Yad Eliyahu in Tel Aviv.
Thousands, led by gedolei Yisroel, are expected to
show their pain over Shabbos desecration in the Holy Land and
to speak of the need to keep the seventh day holy in all
places around the country.
The steering committee will be run by the Vaada Lemaan
Kedushas HaShabbos Be'eretz Yisroel, whose members include
Chairman Rabbi Moshe Yadler, Rabbi Tzvi Odesser, Rabbi Yosef
Aryeh Deutsch, Rabbi Hillel Weinberg, Rabbi Shmuel Binyomin
Sofer, Rabbi Avrohom Yeshayohu Fine, Rabbi Amir Krispal,
Committee General Secretary Rabbi Yitzchok Goldknopf and
Secretary Rabbi Yosef Rosenfeld.
At a meeting of the rabbinical committee last week Rabbi
Halperin described the total shutdown of commercial life and
the regulations in place in other countries during the non-
Jews' festivals, which he mournfully compared to the large-
scale Shabbos desecration in Eretz Yisroel at malls, retail
stores and roadside outlets specially built for Shabbos
desecration.
He spoke of the unforgettable battle waged by his late
father, Rabbi Yaakov Halperin, the founder and builder of
Zichron Meir in Bnei Brak and a close associate of the Chazon
Ish zt"l. He organized efforts to close off the
streets of Bnei Brak despite resistance by the Mandate
police, and also to close the Nesher Factory in Haifa on
Shabbos and Jewish holidays.
Following deliberations the committee decided to set up the
steering committee. Rabbi Halperin pledged to sponsor a team
of professionals that will operate according to the
instructions of Rabbinical Committee directives. The
representatives will periodically report to the Rabbinical
Committee on progress made in organizing the
demonstration.
Recently rabbonim and public figures announced they would
like to join efforts to strengthen the walls of Shabbos in
Eretz Yisroel. Leading businessmen, company directors and
large factories directors have said they would take part in
special activities to persuade other company and factory
directors to close shop on Shabbos and holidays.
Other activists, such as Rabbi A. Goldman, Rabbi A. Shorak
and Rabbi C. Glaubinsky also took part in the meeting.
