Religious youth group asks Culture Minister to delay Argentina match

“Shabbat as a day of rest [religiously] and also according to the law, is a central value in the lives of all Jews and our identity as a people.”

By JEREMY SHARON
Updated: MAY 30, 2018 04:29
Argentine forward Lionel Messi (L) scores during play for club team F.C. Barcelona, May 9, 2018. (photo credit: ALBERT GEA/ REUTERS)
Argentine forward Lionel Messi (L) scores during play for club team F.C. Barcelona, May 9, 2018.
(photo credit: ALBERT GEA/ REUTERS)
The youth wing of the National Union religious party, a part of the Bayit Yehudi Knesset faction, has called on Culture and Sport Minister Miri Regev to delay by one hour the coming soccer match between Israel and Argentina.
The match, Argentina’s last friendly before heading to the World Cup, is scheduled for June 9 in Jerusalem’s Teddy Stadium, and kickoff is set for 9:30 p.m. The match will feature some of Argentina’s soccer superstars, including the prolific FC Barcelona forward Lionel Messi and Gonzalo Higuain of Italian side Juventus.
National Union Youth wrote in its letter to Regev that since Shabbat ends at 8:25 p.m., it would be impossible for religious people to attend the match if they so wish, since there would not be enough time to get to the stadium.
In addition, it said that security personnel, support staff and the Israeli players themselves would be forced to violate the Sabbath, since they would need to begin working before Shabbat ends.
“Shabbat as a day of rest and also according to the law is a central value in the lives of all Jews and our identity as a people, and Shabbat also represents an important social value that should be protected and strengthened,” wrote the National Union Youth wing.
“Observing Shabbat in the public domain is a national interest, and we must work to strengthen its statutory status as a day of unity, holiness and connection between all parts of the people.
“We, the National Union Youth, strongly protest the mass desecration of Shabbat that would be caused in this situation and the exclusion of those who observe Shabbat and tradition in our country, the state of the Jewish people, for whom Shabbat is one of the most central and important commandments.”
The Culture and Sport Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.