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Feb 14, 2012
Proposed Laws: Yom Haatzmaut and Mid-Night Evictions
A couple of interesting laws that were recently proposed:
- The army, or police where relevant, often goes to dismantle outposts or illegal structures in the middle of the night. Though reminiscent of the KGB arresting dissidents in the middle of the night, it makes their job easier as the targets are disoriented and will offer little resistance.
MK Yaakov "Ketzaleh" Katz (NATIONAL UNION) has gotten together with other MKs from the Likud and Hadash to propose a new law that would put an end to the middle of the night actions. The proposal is based on human rights , and as Katz said "“Even if the courts decide someone’s home must be demolished, the rest of his human rights must be protected. It cannot be that people are forced out of their homes, even if it is justified, and are left without a reasonable chance to find shelter.”
(source: Jpost)
- Yom Haatzmaut's fluctuating date might soon fluctuate even more, and it might also become an official long weekend.
Until now the date of Yom Haatzmaut would only fluctuate in years when Yom Haatzmaut falls out on Friday, getting pushed back to Thursday to avoid chillul shabbat. That alone was enough to spark debates over whether, in such years, one should say hallel or not considering it was not being celebrated on the date of the miracle. That debate might become more pointed if the new proposal should become law, as the celebrations will be even further removed form the actual date of 5 Iyar, and far more regularly.
The proposed law (really just an amendment to the current Yom Haatzmaut Law), proposed by Minister of Tourism Stas Masejnikov, would have Yom Haatzmaut celebrated yearly on the Thursday of the week in which 5 Iyar occurs. It would also turn it into an official long weekend.
This proposal would ensure that the economy would not suffer from additional days off of work, often taken by many employees to stretch the vacation. Memorial Day, Yom HaZikaron, would be on Wednesday and then Yom Haatzmaut would be celebrated from Wednesday night through Saturday night. The purpose, as Masejnikov wrote his proposal, is to allow families of fallen soldiers and the general public the ability to prepare for both Memorial Day commemorations and Independence Day celebrations, to maximize the work week and to prevent chillul shabbat. (source: Yediot Acharonot)
Labels:
human rights,
laws,
Yom Ha'Atzmaut
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Rafi,
ReplyDeletewhy would you compare the army of Israel to the KGB?
There are so many other examples of hero's using sleeping hours to launch justice on criminals, why use the KGB?
I think this is what they call bias (unintentional, subconscious though it may be)
When I hear attacking at night by people doing what I feel is correct... and as they are operating by order of law in a (still) democratic state, I think Washington attacking the British, or the US nabbing Osama, or so many other examples.
I would never think what the IDF is doing is at all reminiscent of the KGB.
This is how the sikkriim win. they infiltrate your way of thinking without you knowing.
Which is the same reason why orthodox jews dont want their kids watching tv and books etc... because of the subconscious effect.
and here I think we can see the clear effect that being surrounded by the extremists can have: to compare the IDF to the KGB.
I think Rafi's reference to KGB has more to do with empathizing with those suddenly thrown out.
ReplyDeleteThe problem of course is that the IDF schedules these "surprise" visits at night because otherwise 200 activists will come stand in the way.
there doesn't need to be any debate over the hallel issue. simple solution: split the chag from the holiday. have the holiday on thursday, whatever they decide. but the hallel would be said on 5th of iyar,period.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly, the idea to postpone or bring forward Yom Haatzmaut started because sometimes Yom Hazikaron fell on Motzei Shabbat, and there was the possibility of chillul Shabbat before the official memorial ceremonies. Also sometimes Yom haatzmaut would fall on Friday or even Shabbat, and it would be impossible to have all the official ceremonies and celebrations on Shabbat. The new idea could cause a problem with Hallel, as if there is a three day weekend, Yom Haatzmaut would be celebrated on the Thursday but the 5th Iyar may only be the following Monday, but in that case, on the previous Thursday would in fact be Rosh Chodesh, when one would say half Hallel anyway. That might solve the problem for those who say half Hallel, but not for those like myself who say whole Hallel on Yom Haatzmaut. Note that all the changes were done in the past to avoid chillul Shabbat, and the minister says that this one two should prevent chillul Shabbat. We should never minimize the efforts of the governement which is secular to avoid chillul Shabbat
ReplyDeleteDoesn't Purim move based on the day of the week as well, and don't we say hallel on the day we celebrate Purim?
ReplyDeleteSame with Shavuot.. it's historical date is not the day we celebrate it on.
Anon: Purim was the model for the original discussion about occasionally moving Yom Ha-atzmaut.
ReplyDeleteBut no, we don't say Hallel on Purim. It isn't part of Purim.
until now there were two approaches (that I am aware of):
ReplyDelete1. we say hallel on whatever day the rabbanut tells us to. just like they established 5 iyar as the day, so when necessary they can push it off.
2. some would say hallel on 5 iyar irresepective of what day YH was being celebrated.
the same can be done if this law should pass. It just makes it more removed from the actual date.