The Hotam organization published a video this evening (Thursday) of senior rabbis in religious Zionism, who harshly criticize the holding of the Rashbi celebration on Shabbat night, and the possibility that Shabbat desecration will occur due to the insistence of those they call "various factors" to hold the celebration on Shabbat night.
The video opens with Rabbi Yigal Kaminetzky, head of the Torah and State Center: "I think if we were to ask Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai himself, he would say to forgo lighting the lamp as long as it does not desecrate even a little bit of Shabbat.".
The rabbi of Jerusalem, Rabbi Aryeh Stern, called for the celebration to be postponed: "In order to prevent the desecration of Shabbat, I think there is no other way but to postpone the activity and move it to Sunday evening, instead of the end of Shabbat.".
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""This is all a huge desecration of Shabbat by the security forces, transportation, and fire departments," says Rabbi Shlomo Aviner, Rosh Yeshiva of Ateret Jerusalem. "It's terrible and horrible. Shabbat is certainly more important than Lag BaOmer.".
Rabbi Uri Sharki, of the Meir Institute, noted the security forces' concern for Shabbat: "He would certainly be happy that his revelry would not involve the security forces being interrupted from their Shabbat rest.".
The organization that produced the video says: "We saw it as our duty to demand the dignity of the Sabbath. It is unfortunate that the very public, for whom concern for the Sabbath is a candle to their feet, did not allow the lighting to be postponed, and insisted on its holding at an early hour, which, to our regret, will likely result in mass desecration of the Sabbath.".
""For the honor of Rashbi and the honor of Shabbat, it was appropriate to postpone the lighting. We expect that this video will perhaps awaken the various elements, even slightly, and reduce the desecration of Shabbat.".
