This coming Shabbat, Parashat Pinchas, festive cantor prayers were to be held in the city of Petah Tikva in three of the city's synagogues. Cantor Dovla Heller was to lead the procession, hosting Cantor Eli Valls and the Bezmirot Choir, conducted by Yotam Segal.
As planned, a general rehearsal was held this week on Wednesday (see video) with the participation of the cantors and choirs. However, the worsening security situation led the synagogue managements to decide that it was appropriate at this time to postpone the cantor Shabbat to another date.
Shabbat prayers were supposed to be held in the following synagogues: the Hapoel Hamizrahi Synagogue at 41 Stampfer Street, the Beit Yaakov Great Synagogue at 37 Chovevei Zion Street, and the Arzei Levanon Synagogue at 5 Katznelson Street, Neve Gan.
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Cantor Dovla Heller tells the cantors10: "Postponing the cantor Shabbat is the right decision. At a time when the entire nation of Israel is dealing with such a difficult security situation, it is appropriate to pray for the restoration of peace and security in the country, and to avoid festive events, even if they are in the synagogue.".
Regarding the decision to postpone Shabbat, we spoke with the rabbi of the Hapoel Hamizrahi synagogue, Rabbi Aryeh Engelman, who explains: "First, the fact that the entire people of Israel are under an unprecedented missile attack from our enemies in the south forces us to consider and not observe the festive Shabbat as planned. Second, among the synagogue worshippers, there are many who were called up for reserve duty by Order 8, and I am among them.".
On behalf of the Department of Torah Culture in Petah Tikva, it was stated: "A clear announcement will be made regarding the new date of Shabbat Chazanot.".
