Jerusalem Rabbis Urge Residents to Buy Weekday-Only Pool Memberships

Three rabbis from the Har Homa neighborhood in Jerusalem have issued a religious ruling, urging residents to purchase only weekday-only memberships for the local community pool. This decision comes in response to the pool's opening on Saturdays, which the rabbis deem contrary to Jewish tradition and the wishes of most neighborhood residents.

The rabbis, Shimon Boussidan, Shlomo Goldreich, and Avraham Shabat, expressed their protest against a court order that mandated the pool's operation on Shabbat. They stated that this judicial intervention "contradicts the way of Judaism and the will of most residents of the neighborhood."

In their ruling, titled "A Religious Ruling for the Question of Many in Our Holy Neighborhood," the rabbis explained their efforts to persuade the municipality and pool operators to keep the facility closed on Saturdays. They praised those who supported this cause and residents who refrained from using the pool on Shabbat.

Despite these efforts, the pool remained open on Saturdays due to the court's decision. The rabbis announced that they had secured a special, discounted weekday-only membership option. They encouraged all residents seeking to use the pool to opt exclusively for this weekday membership, thereby avoiding participation in activities held on Shabbat.

The rabbis expressed hope that this collective action would eventually lead the municipality and operators to change their policy and respect the sanctity of Shabbat.