Posted on 05/07/23
| News Source: Arutz-7
The government today (Sunday) Energy Minister Israel Katz's proposal to establish an electricity storage facility to supply "kosher" electricity on Shabbat and Jewish festivals for members of the Charedi community who wish to use it. Many religious Jews are uncomfortable with the use of electricity which is produced on Shabbat by Jewish workers, which is considered a violation of the Shabbat.
The aim of the proposal is to reduce the pollution and safety hazards caused by the use of on-site electricity generators during Shabbat while allowing electrical appliances such as air conditioners and lights to continue to function, while not raising the price of electricity.
The haredi parties had pushed for the plan, which was included in the coalition agreement between the Likud and United Torah Judaism parties.
In the first stage of the plan, electricity will be provided as part of a pilot program in the mostly haredi city of Bnei Brak. The facility will cover a site of 1,200 dunams (about 300 acres) and will cost an estimated NIS 100 million ($27 million). It will store electricity produced during the week for use on Shabbat.
On Friday afternoon, the haredi community will be automatically disconnected from the national power grid and connected to the facility for the duration of Shabbat. In the event of a malfunction, the community will be automatically reconnected to the power grid.
The proposal, which was first reported by Israel Hayom last week, was criticized by Yisrael Beytenu chairman MK Avigdor Liberman.