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Matzav

Israel’s Chief Rabbis Protest Planned Shabbos Transportation: “Unnecessary Chillul Shabbos”

Mar 6, 2026·1 min read

Israel’s Chief Rabbis, the Rishon LeTzion, Rav Dovid Yosef, and Rav Kalman Meir Ber, president of the Chief Rabbinate Council, sent a sharply worded letter to Transportation Minister Miri Regev protesting the planned operation of government transportation services on Shabbos.

In their letter, the rabbonim expressed strong objection to what they described as unnecessary chillul Shabbos as part of the state’s transportation operations during the ongoing wartime situation.

The Chief Rabbis wrote that the planned move is being carried out at a time when there is no danger or concern of pikuach nefesh that would justify work on Shabbos.

They also emphasized that the decision to activate the transportation system was made unilaterally by government authorities without prior consultation with the Chief Rabbinate or receiving halachic guidance, as would normally be expected in public matters of this nature.

The rabbonim called on the minister to halt the plan and prevent unnecessary desecration of Shabbos, stressing that such decisions involving national public systems must be handled with proper sensitivity to halachah and with consultation from the appropriate rabbinic authorities.

{Matzav.com}