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Commentary;
The Mercaz HaRav pogrom has had a profound impact on the Rabbanim.
One may recall that many in the community mistook the terrorist’s gunshots for firecrackers.
On Sunday, Rav Kanievsky issued p’sak banning employment of Arabs.
Now the Chief Ashkenaz and S’fardi Rabbis have issued a ban on firecrackers. Perhaps now, if Israelis bother to listen to Rabbis (highly doubtful), we may hear less of those booms around Ramat Beit Shemesh which sound very much like gunfire or Kassams. MB
Full Text;
Chief Rabbis Shlomo Amar and Yona Metzger announced Monday that Jews should not use firecrackers during the upcoming Purim holiday. Firecrackers are dangerous and therefore are forbidden by the Torah, they said.
The rabbis quoted the Shulchan Aruch, a book of Jewish law, saying, “Any stumbling block that can endanger human life, it is a positive commandment to remove it and stay away from it.” Firecrackers have caused many serious injuries in recent years, and so clearly fit the definition of a “dangerous stumbling block,” they said. The two called on parents and teachers to ensure that children in their care do not play with firecrackers on Purim or at any other time of year.