With an increasing number of stores seeking to create facts on the ground in Jerusalem by opening on shabbos, and secularist activists in areas such as Ramat Aviv insisting most Israelis wish to shop on shabbat and chareidi coercion may not be tolerated, a recent poll shows otherwise.

A poll conducted by Ynet and the Gesher Foundation indicates that quite the opposite is true. Regarding shopping, most respondents admit they prefer not to use shabbos for shopping, contradicting the secularist activists. 62% of the respondents view the increase in the number of stores operating on shabbos as a sign of the nation becoming increasingly secular, while 24% interpret it as a loss of religious symbolism and 14% blame the state, explaining it is simply a lack of respect for employee rights.

Looking at the big picture, 84% of the secularists believed that the opening of stores on shabbos is a sign the nation is becoming less religious but 70% and 76% of religious and chareidim respectively believe it is the result of a loss of tradition.

65% oppose compelling someone to work on shabbos, some due to religious beliefs while others explain it is simply an infringement on worker rights.

A majority, 53% of Israelis report they don’t shop on shabbos, with 25% explaining it is preferable to shop on shabbos and 22% stating they would not under any circumstances.

The Ynet report does not give details regarding how many people were polled or what communities they affiliate with in Israel.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)