Tel-Chai Nation

This was a very unwise thing for him to do (via JP Updates):

The rabbi of the Western Wall and the Holy Sites of Israel participated in a private tour of the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo on the afternoon of Holocaust Remembrance Day. Joined by members of his family, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch attended a “behind-the-scenes” visit to the zoo, though the site is closed to the general public on national memorial days.

The visit took place at Rabinovitch’s request.

The zoo’s management explained that it had hoped to offer Rabinovitch a unique experience, one which would not be disturbed by large crowds.

“The zoo has in the past conducted this kind of activity on Holocaust Remembrance Day,” Jerusalem Biblical Zoo Director Shai Doron told The Times of Israel. “The fact that the zoo was closed to visitors allows for a tour that could not take place if the zoo were open to the public.”

I'm not buying their defense. I'm sure they could always arrange a special day when the zoo could be closed for repairs or something, and give Rabinovitch a tour on that very day instead. And besides, he's the one who asked to pay a visit, not them.

Furthermore, there are plenty of people around who'll think it offensive that Rabinovitch would take his family on a tour of a site that's supposed to be leisurely on a memorial day, and they have every right to be mad, if they are. His actions are another tremendous show of disappointing judgement without consideration for what others feel, and another poor example for Haredis.

Labels: haredi corruption, Israel, Jerusalem, Judaism, Moonbattery