Zionist Orthodox, Haredim, Seculars Protest Opening Of Store On Shabbat
“Many local residents came to us, asking why the branch was not open on
Shabbat, and why they had to travel to competitive businesses. We have
honored the request of our clients and at the same time respect those
who don't want to shop on Shabbat. We will be happy to see them on other
days of the week.”
The protest
Zionist Orthodox, Haredim, Seculars Protest Opening Of Store On Shabbat
Shmarya Rosenberg • Failedmessiah.com
350 residents of the coastal city of Acre reportedly protested outside a home store in the Azrieli shopping center Thursday. The residents were angered that the home center’s management had decided to open the home improvement store on Shabbat.
Students from Zionist Orthodox hesder yeshivas protested alongside haredim. Even many secular Jews reportedly joined the protest.
The store was open on Saturday, but there reportedly weren’t many customers.
For many years, Acre has observed the so called “status quo” on religious affairs. Even so, in the heavily Arab Old City, stores are open on Shabbat.
Over the past few years, the city has tried to close all shops in the city, but that effort failed in the face of protests by store owners and High Court appeals.
Acre has become more religious during the past ten years. Hundreds of Zionist Orthodox families moved into the city, a new Zionist Orthodox yeshiva opened, and a new exclusively Zionist Orthodox neighborhood was founded.
Aharon Meidan, who manages the home center, told Ha’aretz that opening his store fills a real local need.
“Many local residents came to us, asking why the branch was not open on Shabbat, and why they had to travel to competitive businesses. We have honored the request of our clients and at the same time respect those who don't want to shop on Shabbat. We will be happy to see them on other days of the week,” Meidan said.
Protesters fear the opening of the home center on Shabbat will have a cascading effect that will result in many businesses opening on Shabbat.
For its part, the city, while not yet enforcing the law that would allow it to close the home center on Shabbat, wants to placate its growing Zionist Orthodox and haredi communities and maintain the religious “status quo.”
Opening the home store on Shabbat “damages the sensitivities of the religious public. We want to maintain the status quo, under which institutional businesses in the city remain closed on Shabbat,” the city reportedly said in a statement.
[Hat Tip: HeathenHassid.]
Protest is fine. Back it up with a boycott and they will listen.
Posted by: Barry | November 11, 2012 at 01:56 PM
("Saturday in the Park", Chicago)
Yom Shabbat in Home Depot
I think, it was the tenth of Nisan
Yom Shabbat in Home Depot
I think, it was the tenth of Nisan
People marching, people stoning
A man buying hardware
Singing Yiddish songs
Can you shop then? Yes, I can
And I've been waiting such a long time
For Shabbat stores
Another Shabbat in Home Depot
I think, it was the first of Tammuz
Another Shabbat in Home Depot
I think, it was the first of Tammuz
People bitching, really angry
A man quoting Talmud
And praying for us all
Will you help him change the world
Can you dig it? Yes, I can
And I've been waiting such a long time
For today
Slow motion buyers, walk because it's still Shabbat
A Hasid man still can say we are all Godless
Listen children, Shabbat is not lost
All is not lost, oh no, no
Funny days in Home Depot
And we are shopping on Shabbat
Funny days in Home Depot
And we are shopping on Shabbat
People screaming, people grabbing
A real Hasid protest
Blaming seculars
If we want to shop on Shabbat
Can we do it? Yes we can
And we've been waiting such a long time
For the day
Posted by: Sarek | November 11, 2012 at 02:57 PM
This should not be permitted in a Jewish state!
Posted by: Sephardiman | November 11, 2012 at 04:57 PM
This should not be permitted in a Jewish state!
Posted by: Sephardiman | November 11, 2012 at 04:57 PM
neither should avoiding the draft in a Jewish state
Posted by: seymour | November 11, 2012 at 06:55 PM
This should not be permitted in a Jewish state!
Posted by: Sephardiman | November 11, 2012 at 04:57 PM
I am sure more Jews would observe Shabbat if more (or any) of the frumma agreed to"
o Joint the military.
o Educate their children.
o Work for a living.
o Conduct their affirs in an hones and dignified manner.
o Provide an example for others to emulate.
Until they are prepared to do those things, Shabbat violation of this kind is a relatively minor transgression compared to the daily averot of the frumma.
Posted by: David | November 11, 2012 at 08:13 PM
Corrections to my post above:
" should be :
Joint should be join.
affirs should be affairs.
hones should be honest.
(Time for a new keyboard....)
Posted by: David | November 11, 2012 at 08:16 PM
How about keeping the storefront closed but allowing online purchases with same day delivery.
Posted by: Torvald | November 12, 2012 at 12:44 AM
I wonder how many people agree that all stores in Israel should be closed on Shabbat, but believe the New Jersey blue laws should be repealed?
Posted by: Sarek | November 12, 2012 at 08:45 AM