The Chief Rabbinate of Israel sent a letter to local religious councils around the country addressing the early shabbos candle lighting time during winter months and the need to have stores shut in a timely fashion to prevent chilul Shabbos.

The Chief Rabbinate calls on the local religious councils, which are responsible for enforcing kashrus certification in cities and municipalities nationwide, to appoint a shabbos mashgiach in busy areas to compel stores to shut down in a timely fashion. This shabbos inspector will file a report regarding stores that are not closing ahead of shabbos as they should, and the local religious council should then contemplate canceling the hashgacha of such businesses.

Rabbi Yaakov Sabag, who heads the Chief Rabbinate’s Nationwide Kashrus explains the Rabbanut does its utmost to prevent the chilul shabbos and he calls on consumers to shop earlier as well so not to cause store owners to remain open too close to shabbos.

Rav Sabag adds that we must remember that a store owner does not close the door and head home, but he must first make order, clean up and do whatever necessary, so in essence, he requires time in the store after closing the doors. This is why kashrus regulations compel stores to shut their doors to shoppers two hours before candle lighting and for the store to be closed entirely an hour before candle lighting.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)