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."
