The new police rabbi, Rabbi Rami Barachiyahu, previously ruled that the large police forces can arrive in the middle of the Sabbath in the town of Meron and, in his opinion, they do not desecrate the Sabbath. This is revealed this morning (Monday) by the newspaper Merkaz Ha-Amin.
In the past, when Lag BaOmer fell on the night of Shabbat, all the troops were confined to the place before the start of Shabbat, and their transportation was prohibited. The question of the troops' arrival in Meron on Shabbat had been on Rabbi Barachihau's mind even before he was appointed police rabbi, and it had occupied him since he was informed that this year Lag BaOmer would again fall on the night of Shabbat.
It is not clear what motivated him to seek solutions that would make it easier to transport the troops in the midst of Shabbat, and what he did not like about the previous preparations - especially in light of the fact that very large resources were allocated for the purpose of transporting the troops.
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In a conversation that the Center for Affairs held with Rabbi Barachihau, almost a year ago, immediately after the previous Lag BaOmer, he was asked what he considered the most interesting halachic answer he issued regarding police matters, as part of the "Believers in the Police" program that he led?
Rabbi Barachiah replied: "Last year (5775, which also fell on the night of Shabbat), there was a very difficult problem of police traveling to the Rashbi's tomb complex on Shabbat, in order to secure the place where they could hold the lighting ceremony on Shabbat.".
""Next year - this year 2017 - it will happen again on Shabbat night. It's a very, very complicated story... It's very serious, but I have no choice but to tell my police officers that they are allowed to travel on Shabbat, at 2 p.m., to reach the Rashbi's tomb and patrol there. It has to do with Pikuach Nefesh, although on Shabbat night, but we must prepare for it"...
Continuing the conversation, Rabbi Barachiah said: "I wrote a long 15-page answer on this and showed it to great scholars. They all agreed with me that this is necessary. In my opinion, this is a very important answer.".
Haredim10 reveals the summary of the answer written by the police rabbi:
Courtesy of the photographer
Police sources tell Haredim10: "The decision not to postpone the lightings and the Lag BaOmer events by 24 hours forces all security forces to desecrate Shabbat. Despite this, Rabbi Barachihau and the police command team are doing everything possible to reduce the desecration of Shabbat related to the Lag BaOmer events in Meron.".
The same sources emphasize that "any police officer who wishes will be able to stay on Shabbat near Meron.".
The Israel Police stated: "Rabbi Barachihau's comprehensive halachic ruling, which was issued several years ago, reviews the issue from a halachic perspective while adapting it to the challenges of the police in all matters relating to the security of mass events in general, and the Rashbi celebration that took place on Saturday in particular.".
""Due to the fear of danger and the need to protect the lives of many in this event, and as a result of the need for the Israel Police to protect human life, maintain public peace and maintain its security, the Rabbi emphasized in this halachic ruling the balance between, on the one hand, the police's duty to carry out the mission successfully and without risking human life, and, on the other hand, reducing the desecration of the Sabbath as much as possible.".
""We note that alongside the permits granted to the security forces in the halachic ruling, the rabbi explicitly stated his recommendation to postpone the Lag BaOmer events in Meron from the Midsummer Festival to Sunday in the spirit of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel's call on the subject of Lag BaOmer.".
""As a matter of fact, the Israel Police, as an organization entrusted with the safety and security of the public, is currently preparing for the security of the Rashbi celebration that will begin on Saturday (Lag B'Omer). As part of the operational preparation and in cooperation with the Rabbinate of the Israel Police, this consideration was taken into account - reducing police activity during the Sabbath.".
""Thus, every police officer participating in the operation will be offered accommodation and full hospitality during the weekend. Thus, the entry of a police force into the tomb complex on foot before the end of Shabbat will be done by non-Jewish police officers, all in order to allow the public of citizens participating in the Rashbi's celebration to celebrate safely and securely.".
As reported in Haredim10, Rabbi Mordechai Halperin, chairman of the Meron settlement committee, threatened that unlike previous years in which the Sabbath was trampled upon, with mass desecrations of the Sabbath in the afternoon hours of the evening Sabbaths of Lag BaOmer, "this year the gates of Meron will be closed and locked, until the stars of Motzei Shabbat rise.".
According to him, "Neither the Israel Police nor the 'National Center for Holy Places' nor all other entities will desecrate the Sabbath, as was the case in the past.".
Halperin added: "This year, the tens of thousands who will be spending Shabbat in Meron will not allow this situation to continue, and we will not approve any plan or use until Shabbat observance is guaranteed. Meron will not be Tel Aviv!""
