<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_extra"><div class="gmail_quote"><div style>the following is an almost literal translation of Rav Spektor's Hebrew email, published today on the hebrew RBS list (and presumably elsewhere)</div>
<div style><br></div><div style>any mistakes are mine.</div><div> </div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left-width:1px;border-left-color:rgb(204,204,204);border-left-style:solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div style><div><div><div><p>1. The Moetzet haRabbanut haRashit announced that since lag ba'omer comes out this year on a motzash, bonfires should only be lit on Sunday towards evening (but preferably before shekiya)<br>
</p></div></div></div></div></blockquote><div style>This decision was made in order to avoid any chance of Hillul Shabbat.</div><div style>The education ministry accepted this decision and gave the children monday as a day off school to catch up on sleep {ed. note, we do NOT know why sunday was given off also!}</div>
<div style>Teh fire department is also preparing for sunday evening bonfires , not motzash!</div><div><br></div><div style>2. It is assur to collect wood on Shabbat. All preparation should be done motzash, or preferably on sunday-day</div>
<div style>If one sees others making a mistake about this, speak to them KINDLY.</div><div style><br></div><div style>3. The Torah forbids stealing . In order for a bonfire to be Kosher, the wood can only be wood that belongs to the people involved, or taken from true Hefker, and NOT from public places. Workers are NOT at liberty to give wood that belongs to the homeowner for whom they are working, nor from their boss.</div>
<div><br></div><div style>4. It is also assur to hurt others, therefore one may not make a bonfire close to homes, which would cause people at home to breathe smoke, which is a health hazard</div><div style><br></div><div style>
5. V'Nishmartem Me'od L'nafshoteichim - all people attending a bonfire must be careful to stay far enough away to avoid burns, and to be extra careful with small children. Much credit is due to Ezrat Ahim and Keren Yosef for promoting awareness of fire safety.</div>
<div style>If there is any fear that a fire might be spreading, one MUST call the fire station immediately (dial 102) </div><div><br></div><div style>6. Kedoshim t'hiyu - make sure that what goes in and out of the mouths at the bonfire is kosher - the food, the talk and the form of celebration - simhat mitzva.</div>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left-width:1px;border-left-color:rgb(204,204,204);border-left-style:solid;padding-left:1ex"><div style><div><div><div><p>7. B'agala u'vizman kariv - Just as one may not steal wood, one may not steal (aka use without permission) shopping agalot / carts/ buggies. If one did accidentally used such a buggy, one should make sure to return it AS SOON AS POSSIBLE (bizman kariv) <br>
</p></div></div></div></div></blockquote><div><br></div><div style>8. Lifnei iveir lo titein michshol - make sure to clean up after the bonfire, in order to avoid leaving behind anything that could be a michshol / obstacle / safety hazard to others. Altogether, one must be mehader in keeping the mitzva fo yishuv ha'aretz , according to the passuk "zeh keili v;anveihu", and keep Eretz Yisrael beautiful and clean</div>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left-width:1px;border-left-color:rgb(204,204,204);border-left-style:solid;padding-left:1ex"><div style><div><div><div><p><br></p></div></div></div></div>
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