In response to a question from the moro de'asra of
Modi'in Illit HaRav Meir Kessler, HaRav Sholom Yosef Eliashiv
has determined that kohanim traveling on Highway 444
must remain in the right lane. This directive pertains to the
part of the road from its intersection with Highway 443 until
the Chadid cemetery junction only. It was recently discovered
that part of the road runs over a burial cave.
When the highway was paved four years ago a number of burial
caves were discovered, but a halachic solution was
found for the problem. Now it has become clear that one cave
was not taken into consideration. Although it is a sealed
cave, there is no doubt that it is a Jewish one.
Since they must travel in the right lane those kohanim
who wish to make a left turn at the junction cannot do so but
must continue straight, make a U-turn, and then go back in the
opposite direction and make a right turn.
The Modi'in Illit Municipality Transportation Committee has
issued instructions to Egged stating that busses leaving the
city should travel in the right lane only, on the problematic
sections of the road.
Rabbi Frank, director of the Office of the Chief Rabbi of
Israel HaRav Yisroel Meir Lau, plans to ask the Religious
Affairs Ministry to place warning signs in the problematic
area.
Askonim are trying to devise a more permanent solution
to this problem.
