In light of failed efforts to get the Big Center shopping mall in Ashdod to close its doors on Shabbos, the Vaad Rabbonim for Shabbos has decided to launch economic sanctions against investors in the shopping center.

The rabbonim explain in the first stage of sanctions they are calling on the chareidi tzibur to boycott the Migdal Company which is a major investor in the nationwide Big Center chain.

Ladaat News reports that one of the askanim involved in the Vaad Shabbos explains that in line with halacha, a company that invests in a company that is mechalel Shabbos is the same as the company being mechalel Shabbos. The rabbonim in the vaad also spoke with chareidi insurance brokers to ensure their livelihood is not compromised by the boycott against Migdal, a major insurance carrier in Israel.

The rabbonim are likely to call on the chareidi tzibur to cancel their policies with Migdal, including Chinuch Atzmai, which is insured with the company. The rabbonim report Migdal has 20% shares in Big USA. In Migdal, officials insist Big USA has no connection to Big in Israel.

In the letter sent by attorney Avi Edri in the name of the Vaad Shabbos to Migdal officials he explains just how operating the shopping center on Shabbos is viewed as offensive to the frum community and that the shopping center’s opening on Shabbos “results in cracks in the delicate fabric of life and damages the status quo”.

Edri added how the Vaad Shabbos is contemplating a call to the chareidi tzibur nationwide to make them aware of the names of investors in Big, instructing them to divest in response to the chilul Shabbos.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)