According to a report in the erev shabbos Hamodia, Maran Rav Chaim Kanievsky Shlita did not give a bracha to the executives of Shefa Shuk as was reported. It appears, according to Hamodia, that a number of people came to the rav for a bracha for success in business and this was deceptively reported as a bracha by the gadol hador for Shefa Shuk, which it was not. They used the photo in Maran’s office as a PR promotion, releasing statements that the Rav gave them and Shefa Shuk a bracha.

The denial in Hamodia appears in response to reports in the chareidi media showing the Shefa Shuk executives with the Rav Shlita. It appears once the story as it was published got around; Maran Shlita denied the accuracy of the events as they were portrayed, with the Rav denying the bracha was intended for the Shefa Shuk supermarket chain.

The report continues to state that a kol korei in the Rav’s name states it is prohibited to buy in Shefa Shuk since it belongs to Blue Square which operates on shabbos.

The newspaper adds that rumors stating the Rebbitzin distributes yomtov shopping coupons for Shefa Shuk are simply untrue.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)