|
|
NEWS
MK Gafni Sends Letter Protesting Shabbos Desecration by
IDF Chief Rabbi
By Yechiel Sever
MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni sent a harsh letter protesting chilul
Shabbos by IDF Chief Rabbi Avi Ronsky, who drove from the
base where he was stationed to several nearby bases on
Shabbos Parshas Acharei Mos (the day before Pesach), though
neither pikuach nefesh nor even sofek pikuach
nefesh was involved. In addition to the gravity of the
Shabbos desecration itself, Ronsky's actions could have a
very negative impact on Shabbos-observant soldiers, who may
in the future harbor doubts when he issues orders involving
chilul Shabbos.
Rabbi Gafni sent the letter to Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar, Chief
Rabbi Yonah Metzger and Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense
Committee Chairman MK Tzachi Hanegbi. He opened the letter
with a brief account of the events, recounting how Rabbi
Ronsky, in response to an attempt by terrorists to infiltrate
the Gaza border, drove to the scene even though the rabbi of
the Southern Brigade was already present. Arriving after the
event had ended, Rabbi Ronsky then drove to other bases in
the area, also during Shabbos, and then returned to Yerucham
to conduct the Seder, though there was no life-threatening
need to do so.
Rabbi Gafni noted that this action of the IDF Rabbinate
caused extensive bewilderment and a feeling of helplessness.
"Many Shabbos-observant soldiers trust the army rabbis. Based
on their orders in cases of pikuach nefesh or other
instances in which halacha requires they take action on
Shabbos, these soldiers rely on their instructions. This
unnecessary act by the Chief Rabbi, which set a poor example,
has placed the army rabbis, and especially the soldiers, in a
situation of doubt when they receive orders related to
Shabbos observance. To the best of my knowledge this is an
unprecedented event in Israel, and certainly in the IDF
Rabbinate."
In his letter to the Chief Rabbis, MK Gafni asks them to take
action in this serious issue, while in his letter to Tzachi
Hanegbi he demands the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee
hold a meeting to discuss the regrettable incident.
|
