No'ar Hadash PROGRAM IDEAS

February 2003: "SHABBAT OBSERVANCE IN ISRAEL"

In this 1-hour program, teens will discuss Shabbat observance both in Israel and in North America and will make decisions about appropriate lines between religion and state.

0:00 – 0:10   Mixer.  Participants will share a bit about themselves, including why they are attending this event, what they hope to gain from being part of No’ar Hadash, and their best Jewish experience.

0:10 – 0:20   What Does It Mean to Observe Shabbat?  What do you know about traditional rules regarding Shabbat observance?  Do you know people who observe Shabbat following these rules?  How do you observe Shabbat?

0:20 – 0:45  Shabbat in Israel.  Presented with a situation (see below) regarding whether or not Israeli buses should run on Shabbat, participants will individually decide which of the 8 options is the appropriate policy.  Once making personal decisions, the participants will work together to come to a group decision about what they believe is the appropriate policy.  Although coming to a final consensus is important, the discussion necessary to get to this conclusion is much more valued.

0:45 – 1:00 What Is Our Commitment as Reconstructionists?  As Jews living in two civilizations, what is our commitment to Shabbat?  Do we have a responsibility to act in a certain way?  Do we have the responsibility to have these conversations and make thoughtful decisions?  Why or why not?

SHABBAT IN ISRAEL SCENARIO

Israel’s policy with regard to the public bus services is that there are no buses that run within a city throughout Saturday (except for Haifa, which due to historical reasons has a reduced bus service).  With regard to buses that run between cities, there are no buses at all on Friday afternoon/night.  Some services start from some cities on Saturday afternoon before Shabbat is over (e.g. Eilat) but no buses leave to, or arrive from, Jerusalem during the hours of Shabbat.

Which of the following statements best sums up your feelings about the situation?  You must pick one of the statements, even if none of them sums up exactly how you feel.

a) There should be respect for Orthodox Jews and traditional halacha and thus there should be no buses at all on Shabbat, anywhere.

b) The majority of the country is secular so there should be no restrictions at all on buses on Shabbat.  However, bus drivers should not be discriminated against if they don’t want to work on Shabbat.

c) Things should stay exactly as they are at present.

d) There shouldn’t be any legal restrictions on buses running, but we want Shabbat to be special and so there should be a clear educational policy to try and persuade people to make Shabbat special and this would include choosing not to travel on Shabbat.

e) There should be a limited bus service on Shabbat – a basic minimum service so people can get around but different enough from weekdays to make Shabbat special.

f) It is unfair that people who own cars or can afford taxis can travel on Shabbat whereas those who can only afford public transportation are discriminated against.  Either all transportation should be banned (including using private cars) or it should all be allowed.

g) Public transport should be allowed but, in order to encourage Shabbat to be special, tax and other financial incentives should be offered to firms who don’t run buses or citizens who don’t use them.

h) Public transport should run with a restricted service throughout Shabbat but only non-Jews should be allowed to use them (on production of one’s identity card).

Program written by Isaac Saposnik, January 2003.
Bus scenario taken from a program by Netzer Olami.