Keep it Jewish, but keep it fair

Three members of the Knesset have proposed bills which would allow buses to run on Shabat.

First, let me point out something very interesting. The three parties to whom these MKs belong do not include Israel Beitenu, the party of Israel's new foreign minister.

Many believed that it was Lieberman's intention to legislate Israel towards secularism. They of course are correct. Lieberman does want to see the influence of the religious parties diminished, but in this instance his desires for a more secular Israel weren't needed.

Instead, we see the proposed legestration coming from Likud, representing the ruling political right, and from Meretz and Hadash, the hard core political left, and parties of opposition.

It just goes to show the state of Israel's current political climate, in which issue by issue, the political camps are shuffled around and realigned, leaving the country entangled in endless debates, but no coherent governing consensus.

While the three bills aren't identical, all of them ultimately call for public transportation to run on the Sabbath, and to one extent or another would allow for exceptions, particularly in neighborhoods in which the populations are mostly religious.

Would allowing public transportation on Shabat take away from Israel's Jewishness?

The answer I think is, yes.

The fact that the Hebrew calendar isn't just ceremonial in Israel, is a powerful reality, which I find remarkable still, after living in the country for nearly three years.

In the United States the whole country closes down on Christmas. No big deal, right? Most of the population is Christian, its appropriate that the holiday be observed on a national level. Jews enjoy the day off, go eat Chinese food, and catch a movie in an empty theater.

My rabbi used to always joke, "Christmas is my favorite Jewish holiday."

But when you are in Israel on Yom Kippur for the first time, and you see the deserted streets, you understand in a striking way, that all your life you have been a minority. Not an oppressed minority, but a minority none the less. In Israel, the Jews run the show, and make the rules.

You can feel at home in a rented apartment, but walking in the front door of a house you own...makes you know what home is.

That being said, it may surprise you, that I actually support the passage of these bills.

The lack of public transportation on Shabat is not a problem because it grants too much power to the religious factions of society, but because it is out right classist.

Cars aren't banned on Shabat, only buses are, and people with enough money to own cars have a very different life because of it

I work 10-11 hours a day. Shabat is the only time the wife and I have to go anywhere, or do anything. Because we don't own a car, we are literally trapped in our little neighborhood on our only day off together.

My brother lives in Tel Aviv and I live a fifteen minute drive away in Holon. We can hardly spend anytime together, because there is no transportation on the weekend.

You want to ban buses on Shabat? You feel as though it is an important tradition, and a key part of Israel's Jewish identity?

Fine, then ban all cars from the road on the Sabath. If you aren't willing to do that, then I would like to enjoy my day off as well.

Keep it Jewish, but keep it fair.