Between Sunday and Saturday. As in every political crisis surrounding public Sabbath desecrations under the protection of the law, the words of the late Prof. Yeshayahu Leibowitz, who at the time refused to participate in a discussion about Sabbath desecration at the university, on the grounds that "because of the dignity of the Sabbath, I refrain from asking its desecrators to defend it," come to mind.
In other words: What do you think of Tel Aviv, the center of entertainment, drugs, and break-ins in the State of Israel, and the honor of the Sabbath? What do you think of Tel Aviv, the first Hebrew city, the proud host of repulsive parades – and the observance of the holiest day for Judaism?
But what, in the recent railway works event, which took place on Saturday in Tel Aviv, it was a government decision, not a municipal one, hence the uprising of the ultra-Orthodox MKs.
It is impossible, they say, for a transportation minister in a Jewish state to allow work that involves desecrating the Sabbath. It is not clear that such a senior minister would hide behind an embarrassing argument of 'pikuach nefesh' to 'excuse' the Sabbath desecrations he has committed.
But this argument leads to the following question: Even Ron Huldai, the grumpy old man who has been at the helm of the municipality of the large city since the 18th century, receives his salaries and powers from us, the ultra-Orthodox who chose to recognize the state and its institutions. Why are his scandalous decisions regarding the opening of movie theaters, food, and entertainment on Shabbat almost not addressed?
Why did a number of secular container owners and one Haredi lawyer participate in the struggle of the small container owners, who were forced to work on Shabbat by this ruthless man - and the rest of us remained silent?
The relationship between religion and state, between the 'Jewish status quo' and a democratic state, rests on shaky outlines, almost deterministically doomed to failure: How can one claim that we live in a Jewish state when the supreme, unquestionable authority ultimately lies with the Supreme Court, which, by its grace, grants subordinate powers to the rabbinical courts?
Why do the Haredim demand Jewish public behavior from the secular when no one takes it – as in Tel Aviv – seriously?
The aspiration to strive to reduce Sabbath desecration in general is a welcome thing, but the struggle, it should be remembered, is broader: What is the place of religion in the democratic State of Israel, in which areas is it appropriate and correct to apply religious-halakhic motifs in the public sphere in Israel?
Hence the following questions: What is the difference between desecration of Shabbat in Jerusalem and in Eilat? What is the difference between desecration of Shabbat and rampant burglaries in the center of major cities and in government offices? How should we relate to the sale of leaven on Passover, meat on Tisha B'Av, and lobster on a weekday in the city without stopping?
These weighty questions deserve an answer, if only so that the ridiculous statements of the Minister of Transportation that 'the work was limited to life and limb,' and the even more ridiculous debate about whether he 'lied,' will no longer be heard.
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