Shabbos in Tel Aviv Not an Open-and-Shut Case

BROKEN FENCES The am:pm chain was one of Tel Aviv’s first to open 24/7 instead of 24/6 (Photo: Flash90)

A recent Supreme Court decision to allow 160 businesses to operate on Shabbos in Tel Aviv has opponents digging in for a long fight even while they see a limited victory.

“Right now more than 450 stores are actively open without an official permit” says Yair Korach chairman of the Tel Aviv Merchants’ Union which stands opposed to Shabbos openings both on religious grounds and on the grounds that it harms the competitive position of shomer Shabbos businesses. “The court’s decision reduces the trend of opening groceries on Shabbos and from now on permission will be limited.”

Still he says the Supreme Court’s ruling is “serious ” but not “the most severe that could have been handed down.”