Rabbonim in Ashdod met on Monday, 8 Iyar, to discuss the worrisome increase in chilul Shabbos in the city, referring to the Big Shopping Center. In addition to the worrisome opening of stores in the city’s Big Center, the rabbonim fear it will set a precedent and the spread of chilul Shabbos chas v’sholom.

A number of admorim took part in the urgent meeting, including the Shomrei Emunim Rebbe Shlita, Toliner Rebbe Shlita, Pittsburg Rebbe Shlita as well as HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Dovid HaKohen Gross Shlita, and HaGaon HaRav Chaim Pesach Horowitz Shlita. Yona Erlich, who heads the local Vaad Mishmeres Shabbos also held a kenos to address the worrisome new reality in the city.

Rav Yeshivas Gur Rav Shmuel Dovid HaKohen opened the special meeting, explaining the opening of the shopping center represents a “new era”, adding it is a very large center and it draws thousands of shoppers each and every Shabbos it operates. The rav added many store owners are relying on the significant income earned on Shabbos to cover the overhead and the investment in a large advertisement campaign that the mall is operating on Shabbos. Rav HaKohen adds the shoppers are not just from Ashdod, but from the entire region.

The rabbonim pointed out their efforts are not exclusively focused on the Big Center but the other businesses operating on Shabbos as well. They feel they must protest in an effort to express their pain over this new unwelcome reality. However some of the rabbonim feel the protests alone will not do what is needed and they may have to discuss if and how to implement economic sanctions so the store owners come to realize they may also lose business as a result of operating on Shabbos.

Rabbi Moshe Lefkowitz of the Vaad Rabbonim presented facts and figures which were compiled with the assistance of accountants and other experts. The data shows a host of venture capital and funds enjoy significant investment from the chareidi community including investment in some of the big businesses that operate in the shopping center. This is in addition to bonds purchased by the chareidi community and with the assistance of the latter, they recruited hundreds of millions of dollars that were invested in the Big Center.

Rav Lefkowitz feels if the center’s operators become aware the chareidi investors are going to pull out, this could compel a change in policy and the closure of the center on Shabbos. He added that any actions taken by the vaad in this case will be under the advisement of attorney Yaakov Weinrott and Shlomo Ness, CPA.

Activities being planned include mass Kabolas Shabbos in areas that operate on Friday night. A special committee has been formed to carefully plan the steps to be taken.

At the end of the meeting, the rabbonim called on Ashdod Mayor Dr. Yechiel Lasri to use all means at City Hall’s disposal to bring an end to the chilul Shabbos. The message included a warning that if City Hall fails to act as it should, the chareidi parties will break from the city coalition, leaving the mayor without a majority.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)