I have been following a story about Orthodox Jews who are literally rioting in the streets over the city’s decision to open a parking garage on the Sabbath. (During ‘Shabbat,’ as the day is known in Hebrew, ultra-Orthodox Jews are forbidden from working, driving, handling money or using electronic devices. )
Fair enough. I’m not certain that this warrants rock throwing and marches, but there you go. When I first read about this issue, it was in the Denver Rocky Mountain News. I was confused because I didn’t think there was a large Orthodox population in Denver and merely scanned the article. It struck me that once again, the local government was being a tad heavy handed with a vocal minority population. Surely some accommodation could be worked out without resulting to violence, although many of the Orthodox folks I know can be pretty adamant.
Today I read another article about the ongoing issue, this time in the Middle Eastern Gulf News. Turns out the that this demonstration has been going on and off for three weeks. Gad Zooks, can’t those Denver folks get their act together.
I read further and discovered that in fact, the problem wasn’t in Denver at all, but in Jerusalem. Yes, it was the government of the old Capital of Israel that was walking all over the Orthodox. The garage was near the famous old city and it was feared that the open carpark would bring tourists and raise havoc during the Shabbast.
Ancient vs Modern in Israel.
JVH
