An organization called "Ba Rakevet" is dedicated to reporting (on twitter) information about issues with the trains in Israel in order to encourage improved service. They report on delays, technical failures, and all sorts of problems.
Yesterday they tweeted the following:
אז ביררנו...
ואסור לפתוח דוכנים להנחת תפילין בתחנות הרכבת.
נתקלתם - דווחו לנו ונעביר הלאה לטיפול pic.twitter.com/g2gBZJUDTH — בארכבת (@InTheRakevet) February 5, 2020
They say they looked into it and it is prohibited to set up a booth for putting on tefillin int eh train stations. They ask people to report any such booths they might come across.
Shortly after they put out another tweet saying they looked into it further and the station manager at that station had allowed the booth.
Regardless of the second tweet (I checked - based on the timeline the second tweet was well before the response), Minister of Transportation Betzalel Smotritch tweeted in response saying that he thought their role was to help improve the train service and not to deal in anti-semitism. Smotritch then clarified that as long as he is Minister of Transportation setting up booths for tefillin in train stations (and anywhere else) will be allowed and encouraged, and if you try and anyone makes trouble contact him and he'll take care of it.
לתומי חשבתי שבאתם לשפר את השירות של הרכבת ולא לעסוק באנטישמיות ורדיפת יהדות.
אבהיר: כל עוד אני שר התחבורה מותר ואף רצוי להעמיד דוכני יהדות והנחת תפילין בתחנות הרכבת (ולא רק בהן) ניסיתם להקים ונתקלתם בקושי? פנו אלי ונטפל בעזרת השם. https://t.co/4XfJTmAH5T — בצלאל סמוטריץ' (@bezalelsm) February 5, 2020
So far so good.
Shortly after, the Women of the Wall followed up with their own tweet saying they are happy to see the minister committed to the mitzva of tefillin and making Judaism approachable to those who want it. They then announce that in light of that, they will soon be setting up booths in train stations (for women to put on tefillin) and will appreciate assistance form the minister in getting approval for the booths..
אנחנו שמחות לראות את מחויבותו הגדולה של השר למצוות הנחת תפילין והנגשת היהדות למי שחפץ בכך.
בקרוב גם אנחנו נקים דוכן הנחת תפילין לנשים ונשמח לעזרת השר בקבלת אישור לדוכן.
סומכות עליך כבוד השר. https://t.co/6xriz3SKZS — נשות הכותל (@Neshot_hakotel) February 6, 2020
I have to appreciate the sharp response taking advantage of the opportunity given to them by Minister Smotritch!
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