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Title: Ben-Eliezer presents: Kosher electricity for $10 million a year
Source:
Haaretz
URL Source: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/798794.html
Published: Dec 10, 2006
Author: Haaretz
Post Date: 2006-12-10 16:03:33 by Zipporah
Keywords: None
Views: 214
Comments: 2
Electric power is joining the list of products that come with certification they are kosher Today a large part of the ultra-Orthodox community uses small, private electrical generators spread throughout their neighborhoods. The generators, and their connections to the national electricity grid, are illegal, as well as posing serious safety problems. There have been numerous incidents of electrocution from these pirate connections. In order to solve this problem, it was decided during the meeting that the IEC, as well as any other private electricity firms in the future, would base their electricity production on as many automated processes as possible to minimize Sabbath desecration. The remaining operations that require human intervention will be done by non-Jews, who will be hired by the IEC. Estimates are that some 150 new employees will be required, including technicians and engineers. They will be regular workers and work during the week, as well as on Saturdays. They will be trained by the IEC, and all this will cost an estimated additional $10 million a year. The company's license and various regulations will also need to be changed, under the auspices of the Electricity Law. The Infrastructures Ministry said the totoal cost to the economy was miniscule, and that that it may even be paid for by the extra electricity used by the Ultra-Orthodox instead of that produced by their generators.
(2 images)Ben-Eliezer presents: Kosher electricity for $10 million a year 
By Sharon Kedmi
Last week a meeting was held between the Minister of National Infrastructures, Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, and Minister without Portfolio Yitzhak Cohen of Shas, who is the minister responsible for religious services, along with senior officials and the CEO of the Israel Electric Corporation (IEC), Uri Ben Nun. It was decided during the discussion to make Israeli electricity "kosher" for a cost of only $10 million a year.
As a result of decisions by rabbis, in particular a ruling by the Hazon Ish, Rabbi Avraham Yeshayahu Karelitz, in the early 1950s, many ultra-Orthodox do not use power from the IEC since they view the company as violating the Sabbath, and therefore set up their own generators.
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#1. To: Zipporah (#0)
In order to solve this problem, it was decided during the meeting that the IEC, as well as any other private electricity firms in the future, would base their electricity production on as many automated processes as possible to minimize Sabbath desecration. So illegal has no meaning here?
"The illegal we do immediately. The unconstitutional takes a little longer." Gosh why should that be a problem.. it's for GAWD! :P
Today a large part of the ultra-Orthodox community uses small, private electrical generators spread throughout their neighborhoods. The generators, and their connections to the national electricity grid, are illegal, as well as posing serious safety problems. There have been numerous incidents of electrocution from these pirate connections.
---Henry Kissinger, New York Times, October 28, 1973
#2. To: robin (#1)
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