Knesset law toughens criteria for allowing work on Shabbat
Israeli parliament backs bill that would require Israeli officials to “consider Jewish tradition” when issuing permits for work on the sabbath
The Knesset approved a bill, backed by Charedi lawmakers, that would require Israeli officials to “consider Jewish tradition” when issuing permits for work on Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath.
Under the current law, work can only take place on Shabbat if the Labour Minister determines that not performing the work would “harm national defence, physical security or property, or greatly damage the economy.”
Under the law passed Tuesday, the minister, currently Haim Katz of the Likud Party, would also have to consider Jewish factors such as the effect on workers, whether the work could successfully take place on a different day and the effect of violating Shabbat in the public sphere.
The law passed early Tuesday morning on second and third reading as part of a marathon Knesset session. It was a government-sponsored version of a bill originally proposed by Charedi lawmaker Moshe Gafni of the United Torah Judaism Party.
The new law was passed a month after Charedi Health Minister Yaakov Litzman resigned his post over railway infrastructure work that took place on Shabbat. The Charedi parties have been agitating against railway work on the Sabbath for more than a year.
A bill that would give charge the interior minister with deciding whether mini-markets outside of Tel Aviv can stay open on Shabbat also is currently moving through the Knesset.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
