Apr 16, 2012
Rabbanut Announcement Regarding Yom Yerushalayim and Lag B'Omer
Yom HaAtzmaut and Lag B'Omer fall out this year on Thursdays, so the problem of avoiding chilul shabbat due to celebrations does not exist this year. Yom Yerushalayim, however, falls out on a Saturday night - Sunday, which creates the annual dilemma of celebrations causing chilul shabbat.
The Rabbanut has announced its decision of what to do to avoid chilul shabbat. The announcement deals with Yom Yerushalayim this year, and also relates to how Lag B'Omer will be celebrated in future years in similar situations. The announcement about Lag B'Omer is particularly interesting, in that it does not even apply this year, but sets the rules for future years.
The announcement says:
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The Rabbanut has announced its decision of what to do to avoid chilul shabbat. The announcement deals with Yom Yerushalayim this year, and also relates to how Lag B'Omer will be celebrated in future years in similar situations. The announcement about Lag B'Omer is particularly interesting, in that it does not even apply this year, but sets the rules for future years.
The announcement says:
- Yom Yerushalayim: with Yom Yerushalayim falling on Sunday, all celebrations will be moved to Sunday daytime, and no celebrations will happen on Saturday night, to avoid chilul shabbat.
- Lag B'Omer: when Lag B'Omer will fall out on Saturday night, the lighting of the bonfire will be delayed until Sunday daytime on the day of Lag B'Omer, to avoid chilul shabbat.
- Lag B'Omer: the most interesting part of the announcement is this - from now on the Lag B'Omer day of vacation from school will no longer be on Lag B'Omer itself. Rather, the day of vacation will be moved to the next day, the 19th of Iyar, the 34th day of the Omer.
I don't know why schools need to have vacation at all on Lag B'Omer, but if they are going to be given the day off, why on the 34th rather than the 33rd? I can understand a vacation day, if it must be so, on the 33rd, so people - both students with their families and the teachers, can partake in celebrations, be it local or in Meron. If such a vacation day is deemed necessary, what is the benefit of moving that day to the 34th?
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It's badly worded but I think it is obvious that he means that the moving of the school vacation day will be in years where Lag BaOmer is on Sunday. This will "enforce" the moving of the bonfires to Sunday night as all the kids who stay up all night at bonfires will have Monday off school to sleep in instead of Sunday.
ReplyDeleteI reckon this is all going to cause a massive balagan as many will very piously insist on having their bonfire bizmano, not to mention all the Haredim who couldn't care less what the Rabanut says.
the lighting of the bonfire will be delayed until Sunday daytime on the day of Lag B'Omer, to avoid chilul shabbat.
ReplyDeleteoh please. who is going to pay any attention to such a gezira????
I imagine the only people who need to listen to such a decree are people organizing state ceremonies and celebrations. private people can do what they want.
ReplyDeletewhat lighting of bonfires is a state ceremony? in meron???? the land there has been taken out of the hands of that amuta and is now controlled by the state. i can't believe that rav metzger thinks that the lighting in meron will be delayed
Deletedoes the state not sponsor any ceremony? an official city or neighborhood bonfire?
DeleteHow does the Rabbanut get to decide the school schedule? What happened to Misrad Hachinuch?
ReplyDeleteI guess once the rabbanut decides the official religious holiday schedule, the Misrad Hachinuch then schedules schools accordingly.
ReplyDeleteYom Yerushalyim is only celebrated by one sector, and that is the dati leumi. Both the chilonim and charedim ignore it completely, so there would be no problem with the dati leumi. There are some state ceremonies on the evening of Yom Yerushalyim, or before, which could be moved to Sunday of course.
ReplyDeleteThey're writing about Lag B'omer for future years, because they tried to put out a policy last year only two days before when they woke up to it. Good for them for going against the Israeli way, and planning ahead.
ReplyDeleteJust noticed my calendar says next week Thursday is only 4 Iyar.
ReplyDeleteYes...the first sentence of this post is incorrect. Yom HaAtzma'ut does not "fall out" on Thursday this year, but rather was moved to Thursday (and Yom HaZikaron was moved correspondingly) for exactly the same reason -- to avoid chilul shabbat.
Delete