Beitar Jerusalem Coach Almog Cohen Reveals How He Observes Sabbath Despite Saturday Night Matches

Almog Cohen, coach of Beitar Jerusalem football team and deputy minister, disclosed after a recent match against Hapoel Tel Aviv at Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem how he maintains Sabbath observance despite games starting immediately after Shabbat ends. Cohen explained that he stays in a nearby hotel and walks to the matches to avoid violating the Sabbath. "I take this 100 percent seriously, and I will not desecrate the Sabbath because it is more important than anything," he told the media. He affirmed his commitment to continue this practice for future games. Cohen's statement adds to a growing number of religious public figures in Israel who prioritize Sabbath observance even when it requires professional compromises. Notably, the Chief Rabbi of Israel has previously ruled that desecrating the Sabbath to boost morale is not halachically permitted. Cohen's approach involves arriving at games only after Shabbat ends and taking all possible measures to avoid Sabbath desecration.