Last Friday, about fifteen minutes before the start of Shabbat, many residents found themselves in front of locked gates at the entrance to the Haredi city of Beitar Illit.
A traffic accident on the Tunnels Road created a heavy traffic jam, delaying hundreds of residents and visitors on their way to the ultra-Orthodox city in the Judean Mountains. When they arrived at the city gates, they were shocked to discover that they were blocked from entering, in accordance with a regulation established by the city's rabbis about six years ago, at the initiative of the Pharisees group, according to which the city gates are closed to vehicles 20 minutes before the start of Shabbat.
The scenes were heartbreaking: entire families, loaded with suitcases and equipment for the Sabbath, were forced to abandon their vehicles on the dangerous road and begin a long and exhausting journey on foot of many kilometers into the heart of the city.
Pregnant women, mothers with strollers and babies, and exhausted elderly people - all found themselves walking in the heat, some even after Shabbat had already begun and night had fallen.
The video circulated on social media shows the long convoy of abandoned vehicles and residents marching on foot, painful evidence of distress.
The incident sparked great anger and frustration among residents of Beitar Illit. Many reactions flooded social media, and residents demanded explanations and solutions.
"I wouldn't wish such a situation on anyone," wrote one resident, describing a hypothetical case: "Let's say there's a woman, a toddler, and a 6-year-old child, and in the luggage there's a suitcase with a change of clothes for Shabbat. What are they supposed to do? Unpack the equipment, walk on Shabbat with the suitcase? Where to leave the car, on the Husan bypass road? And what about 'muktza'? This is a situation that, after an hour and a half in traffic with the fear of desecrating Shabbat due to a chain accident, is unbearable."
Another resident added: "Anyone who wants to be strict - let them be strict at the expense of their children and parents. In this case, it seems that this is a situation of self-preservation, and even causing desecration of the Sabbath. What will happen if as a result there are those who do not have time to get out of the vehicle, or who leave it on the road and cause a blockage of emergency and rescue vehicles? And what about the elderly and babies who can risk their health because they are required to walk kilometers to the other end of the city? And what about carrying a 'muktze' on the Sabbath? All this in the name of righteousness, which in my opinion is misplaced. It is a shame."
Video: Courtesy of the cameraman
On the other hand, a city resident who supports the rabbinical regulation tells Haredim 10: "People here travel like crazy at the last minute,
It's also very dangerous. Last Friday, during Shabbat, there was a serious creaking sound outside the synagogue - and many were frightened and went outside to see what happened.
"It also causes desecration of the Sabbath - so they set up checkpoints. Everything has a price. There are those who leave late and then get stuck."
"The Gemara says not to sail on a ship on Wednesday because it causes desecration of the Sabbath."
Now, the question arises whether, following today's exceptional event, the existing regulations will be re-examined to adapt them to exceptional situations, in order to prevent similar cases from recurring in the future.
The Beitar Illit municipality responded to the 10 ultra-Orthodox that this was "a decision by the city's rabbis."
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