Jerusalem, Israel – Mayor Backs Plan of ‘Kosher’ Electricity for Charedi Neighborhoods

Jerusalem, Israel – Mayor Uri Lupolianski has directed municipality officials to move forward with plans to connect haredi neighborhoods to “kosher” electricity.

The move is designed to eradicate pirate generator operators who present potential health hazards and noise pollution.
Some haredi neighborhoods in Jerusalem refuse to use electricity produced by IE on Shabbat. Some Orthodox rabbis are concerned that IE unnecessarily desecrates Shabbat to produce electricity.
Because in order to operate the power plants, workers, often Jews, are required to operate machinery.
Therefor encourage the use of generators since they are operated before the beginning of Shabbat and work unattended throughout Shabbat.

Other rabbis rule that it is permitted because stopping the production of electricity on Shabbat could endanger lives.

Jerusalem’s Ramat Shlomo (Shuafat) was chosen as the first pilot neighborhood to be hooked up to “kosher” electricity, and in the coming week the residents will be surveyed to find out if they are willing to pay the additional costs. [J-Post]