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Montreal YM-YWHA arrives at compromise for Saturday openings |
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Written by Mike Cohen
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Wednesday, 04 November 2009 |
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MONTREAL – Following several months of tension in the Jewish community, the local Snowdon YM-YWHA went ahead with its decision to open facilities to the community on Saturday afternoons last weekend and at least one high-profile organization halted its protests.
While the Vaad Ha’ir/Jewish Community Council and the Rabinical Council of Canada (RCC) remained opposed to the move, the Montreal Board of Rabbis (MBR) was able to broker what it believed to be a compromise.
As a result of lengthy discussions with rabbis and consultation with a broad range of interested parties, the Y arrived at a common understanding that they feel makes the Ben Weider Jewish Community Centre more accessible to the community while also enhancing its capacity to offer a broad spectrum of Jewish learning opportunities on Shabbat and throughout the week.
The JCC’s gyms and weight room will now be open from 7:30 a.m. on Saturdays. Initially the pool will be open from 1 p.m.
Executive Director Michael Crelinstein said the cardio-aerobic equipment that runs on electricity will not be available for use on Shabbat and a working group will begin to consider and formulate a range of programs for Jewish learning that will be implemented shortly. No Jewish employee will be required to work on Shabbat. The registration desk and the restaurant will be closed and there will be no activity that requires recorded music.
A Y statement said that these developments reflect the JCC’s commitment to children, youth and families and its partnership with rabbinical leadership only enhances the capacity for this outreach.
Rabbi Adam Scheier, president of the Montreal Board of Rabbis, said that while his organization continues to object to the decision to open on Shabbat, “we welcome the dialogue that has begun with the JCC regarding the issue of Shabbat opening. This dialogue is consistent with one of the core missions of the MBR, which is to build bridges between all segments of Montreal’s Jewish community and to foster communal unity.”
Over the last several weeks Rabbi Sheier said a series of productive meetings have taken place between rabbis and members of the JCC’s board of directors. This engagement, the MBR said, reflects a mutual desire to work towards ensuring that the JCC’s programming on Shabbat accords respect to the central Jewish value of Shabbat.
The RCC, meanwhile, says that while it continues to object to the Saturday opening, it nonetheless recognizes the JCC’s efforts towards taking a step forward.
“The RCC has committed itself, with the full and willing acceptance of the JCC leadership, to be involved in enhancing Jewish programming and transmitting the values and traditions of our sacred heritage,” said Rabbi Asher Jacobson, president of the RCC. “Sadly, the decision to open the ‘Y’ on Shabbat divided the community. It is a breakaway from the high traditional values and social norms that makes the Montreal Jewish community so unique. The rabbis have been working very hard to engage the ‘Y’ leadership in understanding the importance of respecting and honouring this holy day.” |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 12 November 2009 )
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