In anticipation of negotiations between educational institutions and vacation package organizers regarding summer camps, recreational frameworks etc., the members of the Rabbinical Committee for the Preservation of Kedushas Shabbos established by our Torah leadership past and present, have come out with a fervent call regarding the obligation to carefully screen the many options for vacationing and make certain that only shomrei Shabbos sites are visited and included in those programs.
"Since [more than ever] a hand is wielded to fight against the Shabbos, this has become a battle of religious survival, and this is not the time to be silent. We must fight with all our might to raise the banner of Shabbos," insist our Torah leaders.
The members of the Committee issued a request to the representatives of all educational institutions, including seminaries and vacation organizers who operate independently or under local municipal auspices, to operate accordingly and with the accompaniment of the secretarial body of the Vaad HaRabbonim in order to assure that all the various programs, activities and visits are planned only with shomrei Shabbos bodies.
The rabbonim added that educational institutions in the chareidi public represent tens of thousands of students. This should surely provide much clout and consumer power, so that if all these institutions make it their business to comply with their guidelines, it will perforce cause those vacation attractions to observe Shabbos out of commercial objectives alone, thus increasing kvod Shomayim and kvod haShabbos.
It should be noted that many elementary and high school seminaries, per instruction of gedolei Yisroel, signed their intention not to visit places that desecrate the Shabbos. This has, indeed, increased the public awareness of the need to avoid abetting mechalelei Shabbos and breachers of our holy fortresses.
The Batya youth organization, as well as the summer Etnachta program under the auspices of Mercaz Beit Yaakov and its overall administrator, Rabbi Yeshaya Lieberman, which serves tens of thousands of girls who go on vacation or trips under special supervision, have already in the past embraced the guideline of HaRav Eliashiv. He insisted at the time that in spite of the difficulty they encounter in limiting the huge numbers of tens of thousands of girls to kosher places of leisure and the added expenses thereof, the Mercaz will nevertheless avoid such attractions that are mechalelei Shabbos, especially in these times when the battle is pitched against religious observance in Eretz Yisroel. HaRav Eliashiv added at the time that in the merit of Shabbos observance and the increase of kvod Shomayim, Shabbos itself will be a source and force of protection for all those partaking in the kosher vacation outings so that they will all return home safe and sound, both spiritually and physically.
The Vaadas HaRabbonim can be reached at 052-7611 834 for questions on suitable vacation sites and other information.
