In the background of the growing tensions between Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and the chareidi parties in Knesset over Israel Railways Chilul Shabbos, Likud MK Yehuda Glick feels a need to comment and intervene.

The young Glick, known for his Har Habayis activism adds, “Our Torah is a Toras Chaim and religion is not a list of prohibitions ( לא דת של רשימת חוקים של אסור אסור אסור)”, adding, “pikuach nefesh pushes Shabbos aside and is not a compromise but an integral portion of our Toras Chaim”.

Glick further explains “Our Torah is broad and not focused only on the private individual and relations with others, but it is broad and addresses running the nation”.

When asked about Israel Railways being ‘Mechalel Shabbos’ for maintenance and upgrades Glick responded that the Israel Electric Company, the IDF, and the healthcare system all operate on Shabbos and this is not necessary chilul Shabbos but shmiras Shabbos and fulfillment of “live by them” (‘וחי בהם’). He feels these are part of the essential infrastructure of the modern state and the necessary work will not compromise kedushas Shabbos but in fact, it will increase Kedushas Chaim of the nation and the state.

Finally, he adds “The time has come to write a Shulchan Aruch for the modern world and address the halachos of the state and needs of the State of Israel, its leaders and representatives, allegedly Yahadut Hatorah, which will finally raise its voice in matter of halachos governing relations between one another, (בין אדם לחברו). Labor laws, preventing prostitution, moral conduct, and laws to prevent vehicular accidents”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)