A huge victory for Shabbos in Hadera as well as for the religious and traditional council members in the city. This week, a stormy council meeting took place on the subject of the Shabbos Law, in which Mayor Gendelman tried to pass his own Shabbos Law and permit opening all businesses in certain areas in Hadera on Shabbos. At the end of the meeting, a majority of religious and traditional council members in Hadera decided not to support Gendelman’s proposal.

In the past few months, there was shock when Mayor Tzvika Gendelman announced his intention to present his proposal to open businesses on day of rest in defined areas of Hadera. The mayor said that his proposal was to complete the by-laws to open businesses on days of rest, which would allow the opening of restaurants, kiosks and supermarkets on the outskirts of the city, which was enacted in 2014.

According to the Hadera Municipal [Opening and Closing of Businesses] Law of 5764-2014, it is forbidden to open businesses, kiosks and supermarkets on days of rest, when sports centers, entertainment facilities and restaurants may open from the beginning of the day of rest until 24:00 and began at 10:00 the next day.

Section 9 of the bylaw states that the mayor may permit the opening of additional businesses, kiosks and supermarkets, with the approval of the city council and subject to conditions relating to the manner and times of their opening, taking into account the environmental impact and the need to develop the leisure areas.

The mayor intended to exercise the authority granted to him and to permit the opening of additional businesses on the outskirts of the city: the coastal strip, the Hadera River Park, Energy Park, Highway 4, the Mix Compound, the Hadera Forest, industrial areas, Club, the Metropolitan Park. Opening hours shall be in accordance with the existing law with respect to businesses whose opening is permitted on Shabbos, unless the mayor grants a special permit to open businesses until a later time than the above.

The religious and traditional communities were far less than pleased with the mayor’s plan, with many feeling they were duped in the recent municipal elections as the religious parties supported Gendelman.

Shortly before that election, Gendelman told Rosh Yeshivas Rav Pe’elim HaRav HaGaon Lior Kahlon Shlita, “I wish to inform you that B”H all the religious parties are backing me, entering elections united. Why are they doing this? Not because I am a nice guy, but they are doing this because for the past five year, B”H we maintained the character of the city of Hadera, we safeguarded Shabbos.”

Shas Councilman Boaz Biton, who is a member of the opposition, led a tenacious battle against the mayor’s plans, warning his colleagues that if the mayor succeeds, he will turn Hadera into Tel Aviv.

Biton stated, “If the law is passed, Hadera will see on Shabbos like Tel Aviv like all of the kibbutzim in the area. This is not about entertainment houses or coffee shops, it’s all about regular business on Shabbos and once all the businesses in the compounds are open on Shabbos, no Shomer Shabbos person will be able to find work.”

Gendelman intended to bring the bill before Pesach, but when he realized that his proposal to open the city on Shabbos would not pass the city council, he had to fold and remove his proposal from the agenda. In recent weeks, Gendelman hoped that he had the necessary majority, and decided to bring his proposal to the agenda of the last council meeting, but as stated, it failed miserably and the honor of Shabbos in Hadera will continue to be preserved.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)