The rabbis issued the ruling shortly after it was learned that IDF Chief Rabbi Brig.-Gen. Yisrael Weiss (pictured) had been asked to rule on the matter.
Officers in the IDF's Gaza Division have met with Rabbi Weiss, explaining to him the "critical importance" of the mission of closing up Gush Katif. So reports Amos Harel in Haaretz today. They are worried that religious soldiers will not man the positions on the Sabbath unless Rabbi Weiss approves the mission.
Rabbi Weiss was not asked to rule on whether helping out in the closure is permissible in general, but only whether manning the checkpoints involves the desecration of the Sabbath.
Arutz-7 has learned that Rabbi Weiss will apparently allow the soldiers to man the checkpoints, but not to use the computer terminals to check approaching drivers' ID cards. The soldiers will only be allowed to manually check whether the ID cards list Gush Katif as the place of residence - and if so, to allow the drivers to pass through.
Arutz-7 then contacted Yesha Rabbis Council spokesman Rabbi Yossi Artziel, who said that even in the manner described above, Rabbis Shapira and Eliyahu forbid all closure-checkpoint manning on the Sabbath and other days.
Rabbis Shapira and Eliyahu were among tens of thousands of people at a massive prayer service at the Western Wall yesterday, praying for the cancellation of the decree against Gaza and Northern Shomron. Also in attendance were other leading rabbis, Knesset Members, and public figures. A notable portion of the worshippers were from the hareidi-religious public.
The service included the recitation of special prayers for times of danger. Participants reported that it was one of the largest Western Wall prayer services in recent memory.
Officers in the IDF's Gaza Division have met with Rabbi Weiss, explaining to him the "critical importance" of the mission of closing up Gush Katif. So reports Amos Harel in Haaretz today. They are worried that religious soldiers will not man the positions on the Sabbath unless Rabbi Weiss approves the mission.
Rabbi Weiss was not asked to rule on whether helping out in the closure is permissible in general, but only whether manning the checkpoints involves the desecration of the Sabbath.
Arutz-7 has learned that Rabbi Weiss will apparently allow the soldiers to man the checkpoints, but not to use the computer terminals to check approaching drivers' ID cards. The soldiers will only be allowed to manually check whether the ID cards list Gush Katif as the place of residence - and if so, to allow the drivers to pass through.
Arutz-7 then contacted Yesha Rabbis Council spokesman Rabbi Yossi Artziel, who said that even in the manner described above, Rabbis Shapira and Eliyahu forbid all closure-checkpoint manning on the Sabbath and other days.
Rabbis Shapira and Eliyahu were among tens of thousands of people at a massive prayer service at the Western Wall yesterday, praying for the cancellation of the decree against Gaza and Northern Shomron. Also in attendance were other leading rabbis, Knesset Members, and public figures. A notable portion of the worshippers were from the hareidi-religious public.
The service included the recitation of special prayers for times of danger. Participants reported that it was one of the largest Western Wall prayer services in recent memory.