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19 Cheshvan 5765 - November 3, 2004 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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NEWS
The Campaign to Defend Shabbos in Eretz Hakodesh Gathers Steam
by Betzalel Kahn

As a show of support for the fight against those who seek to uproot Shabbos in Eretz Hakodesh, maranan verabonon offered words of encouragement to the action committee set up to organize a mass demonstration in Tel Aviv to strengthen Shabbos in Eretz Hakodesh and to combat blatant Shabbos desecration at malls, roadside stores and outlets specifically aimed to maximize Shabbos sales turnover.

Headed by businessman and philanthropist Rabbi Refoel Halperin the committee members recently visited gedolei Yisroel, including Maran HaRav Eliashiv and the Admor of Gur. During these visits Rabbi Halperin surveyed the broad range of activities in the war against Shabbos desecration and the action committee working in coordination and as part of the steering committee under the oversight of maranan verabonon shlita.

The special steering committee held a meeting in Jerusalem Monday night attended by Rav Hillel Weinberg, Rav Amir Krispal, Committee Secretary Rabbi Yitzchok Goldknopf and philanthropist Rabbi Refoel Halperin. During the meeting reports were heard about unprecedented anticipation following the blessings gedolei Yisroel extended to the event organizers and their intentions to participate at the big event for the honor of Shabbos Kodesh.

Every day numerous ideas are raised along with mounting hopes that the gathering will provide a tremendous springboard for the struggle against Shabbos desecration around the country. The committee decided to present ideas raised to maranan verabonon, including the details of the event preparations.

At the meeting Rabbi Halperin said that a nationwide survey would be conducted to ascertain the number of Jews in favor of Shabbos observance, including nonobservant Jews. The action committee announced it would send around a petition among the nonobservant under the motto "Shabbos Menuchoh."

Rav Weinberg suggested a plan of action should be prepared for after the gathering with Shabbos volunteers in every location to be in charge of activities to strengthen Shabbos observance, such as cars with loudspeakers announcing candle- lighting time.

At the end of the meeting it was decided that the steering committee would convene regularly during the coming weeks to allow committee members to closely survey the plans and activities for the sake of the Shabbos.

Gedolei Yisroel encouraged Rabbi Halperin in his efforts, noting the mesirus nefesh of all of his fellow combatants for the sake of Shabbos Kodesh in Eretz Hakodesh, the sign HaKodosh Boruch Hu placed between Him and Bnei Yisroel.

They spoke of the importance of the decision to work in full cooperation with Vaad HaRabbonim Lemaan HaShabbos Be'eretz Hakodesh toward which end the steering committee was set up to prepare for the large gathering in Tel Aviv, which is expected to draw participants from the entire spectrum of the Shabbos observant public.

 

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