On Friday afternoons during the brief winter days, the gates leading into Beitar Illit will be closed to cars 20 minutes prior to shkiah. This measure is being implemented to avoid any desecration of Shabbos.
The decision followed a dedicated conference held in the city, where the local rabbonim gathered to discuss the issue.
To support the effort, volunteers will set up roadblocks on the main streets of the city.
The rabbonim emphasized that this decision is meant to prevent situations where residents might be stuck outside the city on Shabbos, particularly with the early sunsets during the winter months.
{Matzav.com Israel}
So what if I’m heading to Beitar and there was a פקק at the tunnels or the מחסום and there was a delay? What am I supposed to do if I got to כניסת העיר and it’s less than 20 minutes from שקיעה? Should I spend Shabbos in Chusaan? What should I do? Is there no other way? What if I get into the כניסת העיר and had to park there and walk to my place? Why will they bar me entey altogether?
leave earlier! 20 minutes before shkia is zman kabolus shabbos!
U can walk
Hello, it’s not just a (very) long walk but the eiruv doesn’t even extend that far.
What is the policy before this change is implemented?
“This decision is meant to prevent situations where residents might be stuck outside the city on Shabbos”, so why will “the gates be closed 20 minutes before the shkiah”? Ain’t making much sense.
What if an ambulance needs to get through?
Let me understand this….if i come 20 minutes before shkia i get stuck outside the city for the whole shabbos?
1. There is a second entrance that remains open for security and emergency.
2. This has been in place for at least a few years so I am not sure why this story is news now.
I believe that answers alll the questions raised. If not, keep asking. As a resident of Beitar, I can attest to how transformative this step has been.
it means your car can’t come in. you can park right outside the machsom and walk. If this happens to you, then next time you might leave your house on time…
It is an איסור מין התורה to close the gates of a city for Shabbat.
What if someone needs to get to the hospital at 3AM on Friday night?
There are NO hospitals in ביתר עילית!!!!
When they stop לג בעומר in מירון, you will know that they care about Shabbat.
They should keep the gates closed till 20 minutes after Shabbat so there should be no chillul Shabbat
No concern for people who have emergencies or people who work.
I once saw in a sefer called shulchan aruch that 58 minutes after shkia is considered Day . Maybe the ra bonim should be more concerned about chillul shabbos on motzei shabbos…
Why is it in the morning when the sun is below the horizon and we see the light of the Sun is definitely daytime.At night when the sun is below the horizon and we see the light of the Sun it is also considered daytime .
This is confirmed by the the rambam by the rambam Hilchos Trumos 7,2.
There is another entrance that remains open that can be used for emergencies.
As for Rabbeinu Tam, the overwhelming majority of the city keeps Shabbos until Rabbeinu Tam.
The gripes that people seem to have on this thread are not grounded at all in the realities of Beitar.