Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai is pleased with the recent High Court of Justice ruling permitting the opening of supermarkets in the city on Shabbos, determined to prevent chareidi legislators from passing laws intended to bypass the court’s ruling.
Speaking with Kol Berama Radio host Noam Zeigman, Huldai explained “I acted in the framework of the law which I will continue doing” but explained he does approve of the so-called law legislated to “bypass the High Court”, explaining the nation’s highest court has ruled on the matter and it has given local government authority to decide if stores will operate on Shabbos. He explained that in Nazareth for example, everything is open on Shabbos.
For Huldai, he emphasizes he remains committed to the law, adding “If there is a ruling that soccer is prohibited on Shabbos, then they will not play on Shabbos. If they rule people cannot travel on the roads and they will be closed with roadblocks, then this too will be enforced”.
Huldai however is angered after hearing chareidi lawmakers speaking of legislating law to circumvent the High Court ruling to prevent the chilul Shabbos in Tel Aviv. He adds that large shopping centers are open all over Israel while in Tel Aviv only a number of grocery stores are open to the public on Shabbos. “There are 20,000 stores in Tel Aviv and Yaffo and only 200 will operate on Shabbos while most of the stores remain closed” he concluded.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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5 Responses
The Chareidi political hacks should give up trying to “legislate” shamiras Shabbos in a democratic state where everyone is allowed to follow their own hashkafah. Instead, support progams to bring all yidden closer to yiddeshkeit so they will close voluntarily. If not, then just move on and focus on real legislative issues for the state such as job training, economic incentives for new industry that will provide jobs for chareidim who need special accomodations, more public health clinics and a thousand other priorities.
A חולדא is a rodent, as in משניות פסחים and elsewhere.
Pun intended!
#1: If the mayor does not understand what it means to have the privilege to live in the holy land and to run it as a Jewish state than other legal method must be found.
Keeping the public sanctity of Shabbos is top priority.
If Israel is not a Jewish state according to Torah what right did they have throwing the Arabs out?
“Arye says”
Vayiftach Hashem es pi ha’ason. enough said.