The Chief Rabbinate of the Galilee city of Tzfat has decided to lead the grassroots struggle on behalf of religious services in the town - in particular, making sure those who render them are paid.
The recent cuts in the Religious Affairs Ministry, which is scheduled to be dismantled at the end of the month, have led to an intolerable situation for Religious Council workers, many of whom have not received salaries for months. In Tzfat, the Religious Council workers have not been paid for three months.
Tzfat's Chief Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu says that the public must become involved. Though he has refrained from taking open action until now, Rabbi Eliyahu announced that the Kashrut inspectors in the city will recall all Kosher certificates, and will not provide services such as checking the "eruv" [enabling carrying from one domain to another on the Sabbath] until they receive their salaries. The idea is that once the religious residents see that the issue affects them as well - they will not be able to walk freely on the Sabbath nor will they be able to "eat out" - they will demand action.
Religious councils in other towns plan to follow suit next week. They will not register couples for marriage, issue Kashrut certificates, or receive the public. Deputy Religious Affairs Minister Rabbi Yitzchak Levy (NRP) told Arutz-7 today that he supports the strike. He said that though the ministry itself will become defunct, he hopes that its budget will be assigned to a new Religious Affairs Branch of the Prime Minister's Office.
The recent cuts in the Religious Affairs Ministry, which is scheduled to be dismantled at the end of the month, have led to an intolerable situation for Religious Council workers, many of whom have not received salaries for months. In Tzfat, the Religious Council workers have not been paid for three months.
Tzfat's Chief Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu says that the public must become involved. Though he has refrained from taking open action until now, Rabbi Eliyahu announced that the Kashrut inspectors in the city will recall all Kosher certificates, and will not provide services such as checking the "eruv" [enabling carrying from one domain to another on the Sabbath] until they receive their salaries. The idea is that once the religious residents see that the issue affects them as well - they will not be able to walk freely on the Sabbath nor will they be able to "eat out" - they will demand action.
Religious councils in other towns plan to follow suit next week. They will not register couples for marriage, issue Kashrut certificates, or receive the public. Deputy Religious Affairs Minister Rabbi Yitzchak Levy (NRP) told Arutz-7 today that he supports the strike. He said that though the ministry itself will become defunct, he hopes that its budget will be assigned to a new Religious Affairs Branch of the Prime Minister's Office.