Soon, so cried the newspaper headlines, Jerusalem will burn, with the opening of a new cinema complex on Saturday.
The opening event, as well as the ads, are an excellent opportunity to examine our opinion on observing Shabbat in the public sphere.
As believing Jews, we see every desecration of the Sabbath as spitting in the face of the Creator of the world and the Torah, may God have mercy on it.
As a public, we are interested in 'inheriting those who love Him'... We believe that it is not Israel that keeps the Sabbath, but the Sabbath keeps Israel, and every breach in the wall of the Sabbath leads us down to the mouths of the abyss.
Can we accept the desecration of Shabbat outside our neighborhood? And what are the boundaries of our neighborhood? What are we obligated to do to strengthen Shabbat observance?
As a native of the city of Petah Tikva, I grew up watching the Shabbat demonstrations, led by the city's rabbi, Rabbi Solomon zt"l. I remember well as a child his cry: "A people who sanctify the seventh day" - a people who do not sanctify the seventh day, have no right as a people to the Land of Israel...
The Land of Israel belongs to the people of Israel according to the Torah of Israel. All of our moral right to reside in the Land is by virtue of the Torah. When we do not observe the Torah and its laws, how can we stand up and demand our right to the Land?
The duty to protest, therefore, is clear and binding on every Jew.
Indeed, the method of protest is an issue in itself.
Some see activist protest as a way forward, while others are content with passive protest.
I believe that before protesting, we must awaken to the issue of mutual responsibility, and an understanding that as one people we are being judged, and that the Sabbath protest serves to bring about the observance of Shabbat and the mitzvot.
Just as it is commanded to say something in a place where it can be heard, so it is forbidden to say something in a place where it cannot be heard. Each of us has a role in this protest - to bring the word of God to every corner of the people's hearts, and to spread the light of the preciousness of Shabbat. To awaken and inspire because we care about the future of the people and their settlement in the land.
But we must separate motives that are not pure.
The means of protest, then, should be one that respects Sabbath keepers and not, God forbid, one that only causes contempt.
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