Hundreds Demonstrate Against Forced Movie Theater Sabbath Closure
Almost 500 demonstrators reportedly protested outside city hall in
Jerusalem Saturday night against the government’s decision to compel the
city’s newest and largest movie complex to close on Shabbat, the Jewish
Sabbath.
Cinema City's completed and open Rishon Lezion, Israel location
Hundreds Demonstrate Against Forced Movie Theater Sabbath Closure
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
Almost 500 demonstrators reportedly protested outside city hall in Jerusalem Saturday night against the government’s decision to compel the city’s newest and largest movie complex to close on Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath.
Cinema City is a 15-screen, $35 million complex now under construction on top of the National Government Center parking lot. The complex’s building permit reportedly carries orders from from the city and the Israel Ministry of Finance that the completed theaters must not open for business on Shabbat.
“This demonstration tonight showed that it was very important to the people of Jerusalem that Cinema City should be open on Shabbat. It was especially significant that a few members of the haredi community joined us as well, and said 30 percent [of haredim] wouldn’t object to Cinema City being open [on the Sabbath],” Ofer Berkovitch, head of the Awakening in Jerusalem organization and the leader of last nights protest told the Jerusalem Post, emphasizing, the Post reported, that the protests were in support of freedom of religion –not against haredim. “We keep saying all the time that we want to work with religious groups to come to an agreement [on this matter],” Berkovitch added. “The possibility of cooperation between the haredim and [secular Jews] shows that people want to change this situation so that everyone’s rights are respected.”
When Jerusalem’s Mayor Nir Barkat signed the permit for the 2,390-seat complex, he reportedly told reporters the city was “investing enormous resources in transforming the city into a cultural and entertainment capital so that it will attract and draw young people, tourists, and businesses.”
But having entertainment venues open on Shabbat is one of those things necessary to attract young people, tourists, and businesses to Jerusalem. Jerusalem’s strict Sabbath closures drive many secular young people to move to Tel Aviv or other more liberal areas. Businesses also tend to open or expand in areas where their employees – who are overwhelmingly secular – can live enjoyably. Tourists who are not Orthodox or haredi Jews either spend their Friday nights and Saturdays in the Arab parts of the city or, much more commonly, spend them in Tel Aviv.
Berkovitch said he hoped the forced Shabbat closure would be lifted in the very near future. But if it isn’t, he reportedly plans to file suit against the city and the Finance Ministry to force them to allow the complex to open on Shabbat.
Fucking haredim are always demonstrating. Let them get a job already.
Posted by: Lubavitchers are Christians | May 05, 2013 at 11:04 AM
enjoy hell shmarya
Posted by: jordan molsten | May 05, 2013 at 01:39 PM
The misbehavior of haredim does not change the fact that there are laws in Israel. Commercial movie theaters are not even permitted to be open on Shabbat. Also, where is your concern for employees who should be able to enjoy a day off, but you would have report to work 7 days a week. New Jersey has blue laws, Jerusalem can have them too.
Posted by: 99 Percent | May 05, 2013 at 02:52 PM
To respond to the above the Rabbinic rules of Shabbos are very much against the spirit of the day. It bothers me that the Shabbos has become a day to hate technology as someone who grew up that on the Shabbath I could use cards to keep score and play games but somehow using technology is work when it is not work since NO HEALTHY PERSON would pay someone for example to turn on a light. I have to honestly it also develops the attitude that technology is bad which is a terrible attitude and a lack of appreciation where to have light you don't have to build a fire which was work. E-Readers and other technology using that instead of reading a book how is that work. Movies as well is not work although people have to be at the movie theater rather then have a day off. But what about Doctors and others who own grocerie stores who may have to be open and some in the religious world want others to work for their emergencies.
Posted by: adam | May 05, 2013 at 03:33 PM
Chareidim will not watch movies any day of the week, or so we're told. Why not just close the ticket office and let ticketholders who buy before Shabbos enjoy the movie?
Posted by: spaced out BT | May 05, 2013 at 03:43 PM
("Another Saturday Night", Sam Cooke, [the former] Cat Stevens)
Another Shabbat night and I ain’t got no movie
I finished davening and I want an escape
How I wish I had one film to go see
I am just bored to death
I got to Jerusalem a month ago
I’ve seen a lot of films since then
But I can’t see them on the Sabbath
It’s like the century eleventh
I’ll just move to Tel Aviv
Another Shabbat night and I ain’t got no movie
I finished davening and I want an escape
How I wish I had one film to go see
I am just bored to death
Another fellow told me
He had some passes for the cinema
But they closed it on the Shabbat
So they could remain Glatt
I might as well eat matzah
Another Shabbat night and I ain’t got no movie
I finished davening and I want an escape
How I wish I had one film to go see
I am just bored to death
It’s hard to be secular
When you live in Jerusalem
If I don’t find a place to spend gelt
Although it might be heartfelt
I’m gonna leave this bible belt
Another Shabbat night and I ain’t got no movie
I finished davening and I want an escape
How I wish I had one film to go see
I am just bored to death
Posted by: Sarek | May 05, 2013 at 04:15 PM
Who is Ben?
Posted by: I can't think of a name yet | May 05, 2013 at 08:58 PM