The Haifa Mall opened for business on Shabbos despite various attempts by chareidi representatives to prevent the new breach, which is liable to set a precedent. UTJ’s Haifa representative, Councilman Rabbi Chaim Williger, said that the move upsets the status quo and as such he contacted Mayor Yonah Yahav, asking him to dispatch inspectors and issue fines to enforce the city ordinances.
Recently the mall management gave notice that 100 stores would open on Shabbos. In practice a much smaller number opened their doors for business. In recent weeks some store owners have asked local rabbonim and chareidi representatives to halt the move. Though not observant, they wanted to uphold the day of rest. Some noted that based on past experience they have not seen blessing in the money earned on Shabbos.
Their objections were passed on to the mall director, who claimed that he was not obligating any store to open, though obviously opening a portion of the stores induces others to follow suit. The chareidi public is now considering whether to publicize a list of which stores open on Shabbos and which remain closed. Other malls have tried opening on Shabbos in the past, but quickly closed after finding that the move was not worthwhile economically.
The chareidi public is wondering how such a serious breach of the walls of Shabbos and a violation of the Work and Rest Hours Law could take place at a time when a Shas minister heads the Trade, Industry and Employment Ministry.
(Y. Ariel for Dei’ah veDibur)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
22 Responses
“Though not observant, they wanted to uphold the day of rest”. If they don’t observe shabbes, why should they be granted the day off, to uphold the day of rest? Shabbes is not just a day off, its a day loaded with mitzvahs. It isn’t meant just to be wasted. That’s what most people here were commenting when the story of that jewish mailman in Ohio came around.
Bearing the fruits of zionism.
oncefrum when a Jew declares shabbos as a day of rest or a day off, that is his neshema speaking and sparking up, & I say ‘Kol Hakavod’
1. keep davening for olmert, he’s doing a great job.
2. stop complaining, boycott any store open on shobbos.
3. Oncefrum, u r silly. jews who don’t want 2 b mechallil shobbos be’parhesiya are cool.
o-hi-o shmo-hi-o
4. GUT Shabbos,
the aibishter was choynen us with the zechus and choach 2 b shomer shabbos, lets be mechazik our shabbos and emuna and all will b good.
5. zionists means the secular zionist movement from long ago. they’re the worst!!!!
Mr. “torah”is1: Verbal assault on another commentator does not help your argument but rather exposes it as fallacious, deficient and requiring of mudslinging on your part.
illini, I never heard a bad word from him about anyone (and I’m not talking about ideas or groups that have been criticized by Gedolim.)
If I am incorrect, why don’t you kindly point to even a single YW article where you can show it ever occurred?
Doc, are you Joseph’s appointed attorney or are you actually Joseph once again sticking up for Joseph?
illini – YW’s archives go back at least a couple of years. And I don’t need “occurrences”, all I asked for is ONE instance. If it truly happened so many times as you seem to posture, finding ONCE shouldn’t be all too difficult. Or as I truly suspect, you cannot find that even one example…
RM – Aren’t you the quack who constantly accuses anyone you disagree with as being a proxy for someone else? As if anyone you disagree with can’t POSSIBLY have other people who agree with them! Last time I remember you accused Sarah of the same thing… I guess the whole world must be against you!
No, no, Mechy, you’ve got it all wrong…
Don’t you remember- YOU are Joseph’s alter ego! I know this, because I’m one too!
Mr. Mechel has a tendency to accuse people of being someone else. He can’t take a disagreement like a man, so there is no merit in debating.
Back to the point..
Close the mall and let the Jews have a day off.
Joseph, I was not involved in this debate, so there. If you would like me to mention all the threads when Joseph is under attack and certain names ie Brisker, Sarah and others all suddenly come to his rescue, its rather odd. And besides why are you one of the most despised commentators on this blog? I wonder….
Doc, no I only accuse Joseph of that tactic.If you believe that I constantly accuse anyone who doe not agree with me by using another screen name I sugget YOU look into the archives and find an instance other than your self. If I recall correctly there was a thread when the moderator chimed in and told Joseph to stop using different screen names.
Mechel, You are funny without ever intending to be so.
It is obvious looking above that YOU are the one ”under attack” and the ”most despised commentator” as you put it.
Oh wait, I forget, anyone agreeing with me or disagreeing with you is ”obviously” me in another life.
Did you ever consider all these people actually agree with me? Oh no, impossible in your mind, because that would obviously mean they disagree with poor Mechel and agree with me — a situation you absolutely cannot contemplate.
Since you have an answer to everything, how do you explain the editors comments that you stop using different screen names to stick up for yourself?
Where was this thread? Either I missed it, or as I suspect, it never happened. If it did it was clearly an error as the editor E-Mails me if there is any question.
Pseudo this and pseudo that, what can be done to close the Haifa mall and give the Israelis a weekend.
I am aware of no such “post.” Please direct me to the thread if it indeed exists, which I highly doubt. If it does, as I said it was clearly an error as the editor contact me via e-mail if there is any problem or questions — which hasn’t happened.
I could just as easily claim Mechel and illini are one and the same — but I am not quack and do not make claims I do not know are fact — unlike someone above.
Joseph once again trying to cover up for his nonsense.
For the third (or is it fourth?) time I ask, please provide me a source. You made an allegation, back it up. Where is the magical, supposed, thread? In your imagination perhaps?
Apparently you being as bored as you are would find the time to sift through the posts. I have a life and quite frankly I am done with your idiocy.
Mecehl – Once again after you are thoroughly repudiated you are “done” when asked and you cannot provide a source for your baseless and false allegations.