The Petach Tikva municipality denounced on Sunday what it charged were “underground and underhand” attempts to force an Orthodox way of life on secular Jews.
The city officials were responding to reports that ultra-Orthodox Jews have found a way to demonstrate against Friday evening film showings without securing a police permit. They plan by sheer numbers to prevent movie-goers from entering the Heichal cinema, according to media reports.
The reports said that Petach Tikva’s Chief Rabbi, Baruch Shimon Solomon, and his followers conducted secret negotiations to rent a building adjoining the movie house which they plan to use as a makeshift synagogue.
The intention is to draw thousands of observant Jews from other synagogues into the 100 square meter ground floor hall which is presently occupied by a cafe, video-game arcade and pool parlor.
The hall cannot accommodate large numbers. The overflow will have to pray on the street and according to the rabbi, movie ticket-holders will not dare to force their way through the crowd of worshippers, the media reports said.
The Petach Tikva police said Sunday it would be irresponsible for the Orthodox to open a synagogue next to the movie house which would only increase tensions between the religious and secular residents of the city. There is no shortage of synagogues in Petach Tikva, Police Inspector General David Kraus observed.
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