I am bundling these interesting law proposals into one post, even though each probably deserves its own post...
1. MK Motti Yogev (Habayit Hayehudi) has proposed a law that would prohibit all houses of worship from using sound systems.
Yogev reasons his proposal by saying that the loud noise disturbs the quality of life of many residents who live in the areas near these houses of worship. According to Yogev, the freedom of religion and freedom of worship does not need to come at the expense of other people's quality of life.
source:
INN,
TOI
Obviously not too many shuls use such sound systems that broadcast out to the public. Also obviously, many (all?) mosques do, and this law would largely affect them, if it passes..
I can't wait for the video of Ahmed Tibi screaming about this from the Knesset podium
2. you might be saved from the Muezzin by Motti Yogev, MK Miki Zohar (Likud) is going to have you suffer more on Lag BaOmer and Chag HaMimouna.
Zohar has proposed a law that would add Lag BaOmer and Mimouna to the list of holidays in which it has an automatic exemption from the noise laws. Meaning, Lag BaOmer night and Mimouna night celebrations won't have to end at 11pm (in residential areas), but can go until the wee hours of the morning.
Zohar explains these are days that have become celebrated by everybody like the regular holidays and there is no reason they should be limited by the law. Especially because they both fall out during Daylight Savings Time in the summer and therefore both start and end late.
source:
Srugim
So Daylight Savings Time does have a victim...
3. Have you ever received a postal note informing you of registered mail waiting for you at the post office - then, after waiting 30, 40 or 50 minutes in line at the post office you find out it is a calendar from an organization looking to hit you up for a donation? There is no way you would have waited in line for so long to go get something like that, but the postal note does not tell you who sent the registered mail, and you thought it was your new passports or that check you've been waiting for!
MK Nachman Shai (Hamachane Hatzioni) has proposed a law that would require senders of registered mail to write their name, address and any applicable legal issue for the item on the mail slip.
source:
Srugim
The first law proposal above seems dangerous to me. Maybe limit the speakers by decibels and volume, but canceling it altogether seems like an impediment in a freedom of religion that has been allowed until now.
Once you start making laws against other people's religious practices, you don't know where it is going to end.
The second law seems unnecessary to me. Do we really want the noise and smoke and kids out so much later than Lag BaOmer night already is? I definitely don't.
The third law looks good to me. It might make it more difficult for legal issues, such as bank notices or legal notices that will now go ignored and won't be picked up because the recipient knows in advance that it is something he does not want, but overall it seems good to me. If somebody wants to serve a notice, they can work and find other ways to do it.
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