It appears that a number of politically active secularists have succeeded in obtaining City Hall approval to operate a café in the Kiryat Yovel area of Yerushalayim. This café will be operating all week, including Shabbos. The café will operate like a co-op and residents will buy shares and man the business.

The idea reportedly came from Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, who told reporters in the past “Jerusalem should resemble Berlin, Amsterdam and Dublin where they have pubs and cafes under almost every apartment building.”

The organizers feel that they have found a way to prevent chareidi opposition, indicating they will not accept cash on Shabbos but prepaid cards that can be punched by employees when a purchase is made.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)