Have You Received the 'Petition for Shabbat'? Here's the Story Behind It

Have you also received in recent days a call to sign the 'petition for the Electric Company'? A petition demanding the Electric Company employ non-Jewish personnel in control rooms, thus allowing Jews in Israel to fully observe Shabbat in the most proper way?

The person behind the petition, it turns out, is Rabbi Binyamin Huta, Rabbi of the Achdut Yisrael community in Beitar Illit, author of books on Shabbat laws, and a lecturer throughout the country and on his radio program 'Kol Berama'. "I am not a political person," Rabbi Huta emphasizes in an interview with Hidabroot. "There is no organization or association behind me, I decided to go to battle for Shabbat observance as a private person who simply pains for the situation we've reached, given the fact that the Electric Company employs Jewish workers on Shabbat, despite there being a clear possibility to employ non-Jewish workers, thus allowing electricity consumption on Shabbat also for those who are careful to use a generator. This would also allow all of Israel who wants to receive electricity initially, and not as an afterthought, to consume it in the most proper way."

A Desperate Call

Electricity has been supplied this way for decades. Why did you decide to act now?

"It began after I was invited about two years ago to give lectures at the Electric Company, before the employees. These were lectures given each time to about 150 members of the staff. Each time after the lecture concluded, I asked the employees and engineers to take me on a tour around the Electric Company, and thus I became acquainted with how the place operates. A very reliable connection was formed between myself and the senior managers, and I used it to ask them the question that has been nagging me for a long time – why doesn't the company ensure that workers operating the machines on Shabbat Kodesh are non-Jews, thus allowing the use of electricity initially and in the most desirable manner? The answer I received pained me very much. From what was explained to me, I understood that basically no one is asking them to make a change, they don't see any economic impact that would add anything, and as long as the observant public accepts the fact that Jews work on Shabbat, then from their perspective, there is no need for change.

I explained to them, of course, that this is not accurate, since firstly there are thousands of observant families in Israel who consume private electricity by generator. My heart aches for these families who spend a lot of money on it and eventually receive electricity in a limited amount, and above all, it pains me that there are Shabbat observers in Israel who rightfully deserve to receive a perfect product and even pay the full price for it, but in the end have to compromise. Not to mention that it also causes Jews to violate Shabbat by employing them on that holy day."

But until now, most of the Jewish leaders have permitted the use of electricity on Shabbat...

"True, until now there was a permission. It came thanks to relying on the opinion of Rabbi Ovadia ztz"l and the Ashkenazi poskim who permitted and stated that in times of necessity it's allowed to use electricity even if operated by a Jew, because they rely on the fact that in every neighborhood there are patients for whom such actions must be done so they don't reach a situation of danger to life. But the matter is that today we are no longer in a situation of necessity, because unlike what was fifty years ago when non-Jews couldn't be put into control rooms due to security issues, today there are many Druze and new immigrants who are non-Jews, all experts from top combat units who believe strongly in the state and can provide a perfect solution. So why not use this resource?"

Another important point Rabbi Huta seeks to emphasize: "Our request from the Electric Company is to place non-Jews specifically in control rooms, since it involves manual work, not automatic. If suddenly there's high voltage in Ra'anana and low voltage in Be'er Sheva, someone needs to manually lower here and raise there; otherwise, the electricity might surge or burn out. Therefore, manpower is required, but there is no reason this technical force should not be non-Jewish."

150,000 Signatures

"This is the reason," Rabbi Huta says, "that I called upon everyone in the country who cares about Shabbat observance, and I saw an incredible response from Haredim, religious-nationalists, secular people, and traditional people alike. Within three days, we received support from more than 150,000 people. It was amazing, all we asked was for them to call 03-3080800 or *6665 and thus support the cause."

By the way, Rabbi Huta notes that following the petition he published, calls circulated on social networks and in email boxes urging people to sign the petition "because the Electric Company promised that if 90,000 people sign, it will stop employing Jewish workers on Shabbat."

"It's a distortion of the facts," he emphasizes, "The Electric Company never promised such a thing, and it wouldn't make sense to demand it to make such a ridiculous commitment. What if only 89,000 people sign? Will they not approve it? But some people spread the message incorrectly.

"In any case," he emphasizes, "my goal with the petition is simply to demonstrate the enormous power we have, as it certainly makes an impact. Personally, I'm so moved to see, especially in these days leading up to Tisha B'Av, how all of Israel unites around one thing, without politics and without any interest. Purely out of altruistic love and the desire to promote such an initiative. We show the Creator of the world: You destroyed Your house because of baseless hatred, and see upon what Your children unite now. As it is said about Shabbat observance, if they observe it, they would immediately be redeemed."

"Don't Worry, No One Fails"

According to Rabbi Huta, the many people who joined the petition have indeed influenced its operation. "Just yesterday at 8 in the evening, I received a call from the regulator of the Electric Company on behalf of the government – MK Eitan Cabel, who asked to meet with me to hear exactly what we are demanding and how we can advance it. He promised fully that he would bring the issue to a vote in the Knesset."

And in the meantime? What does halacha say about using electricity on Shabbat in such a situation?

Rabbi Huta cautiously explains: "The Chazon Ish stated that initially, without the permissions we have, anyone using electricity on Shabbat 'resembles one lighting a cigarette from a bonfire where a Torah scroll was burned'. His reference is, of course, to the desecration of sanctity involved, as it causes Jews to work on Shabbat. Rabbi Ovadia also wrote similar things. But, it is important to emphasize that today we are in a situation where the use of electricity in such a manner is forced upon us. In the meantime, we have no other choice. Therefore, there is no need to worry, because no one fails, but it is certainly important to sign the petition, so we can merit the use of electricity in an optimal way, not as an afterthought."

All the activity and initiative, according to Rabbi Huta, has the full blessing of Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, and as of yesterday, the Rebbe of Gur also joined the petition.

Are you optimistic? Do you think the petition might indeed bring about change?

"Definitely yes. As I mentioned, there are already movements in the Knesset, and I fully believe that with a little more effort on our part, we will, with Hashem's help, achieve a blessed change that will certainly be a merit for all of Israel."

From the spokesperson of the Electric Company in response to Hidabroot: "The Electric Company is not familiar with the petition, except for misleading reports in the media. As for the issue itself - it is under discussion in the Knesset and government offices, and once decisions are made, the Electric Company will act accordingly."