One of the more popular cafes in the Rechavia area of the capital is “restobar”, located opposite the official Prime Minister’s Residence. When patrons arrived on Monday 7 Nissan 5773 for their morning pastry and coffee they were surprised to see the place was closed.

Owner Shachar Levy explains he refused to comply with the landlord’s demands that he close on Shabbos and Yomtov as well as getting a teudat kashrus. The restaurant has been open every day for the past eight years patrons explain.

Levy has been under pressure in the past to change his ways, but he remained stern in his defiance of the demands for Shmiras Shabbos and kashrus.

Prior to restobar the site was home to the Moment Café, but after the deadly suicide bombing attack in the location in March 2002 that claimed 11 lives, the owners failed in efforts to revive the once popular locale. Levy moved in, changing the name to restobar, becoming a popular site for the non-frum.

There were Eida Chareidis protests demanding closure on Shabbos, but Levy stood firm, insisting he may operate on Shabbos and he does not have to be kosher.

What the Eida Chareidis did not succeed in doing the owner of the property did, informing Levy that unless he closes on Shabbos and turns kosher, the lease is over. Levy has taken his case to court in the past, a fighter for non-frum rights, and it is currently unclear if he will accept this verdict or seek to plead his case in court.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)