The wave of protests against Bank Mizrachi continued, due to
its recent decision to operate its ATMs on Shabbos. The bank
claimed that it has received some sort of authorization from
the Tsomet Institute of Alon Shevut, which determined that
"it is possible to operate an ATM (automatic teller machine)
on Shabbos, because it doesn't involve the use of manpower or
human contact." The first ATM of Bank Mizrachi to operate on
Shabbos will be located in the Savyonim shopping mall in
Petach Tikvah. Other banks close their machines on
Shabbos.
The Tsomet Institute has recently drawn unfavorable publicity
for its identification with several initiatives that -- while
they may or may not be within the technical bounds of halacha
-- are definitely deeply threatening to the general spirit of
the laws in question, and especially Shabbos.
A number of avreichim, clients of the bank, have
prepared a manifesto protesting the unprecedented operating
of the ATM on Shabbos and yom tov, and have recruited
signatures from a broad cross-section of shomer
Shabbos communities throughout the country. They noted
that the move will certainly undermine the general sanctity
of Shabbos, and may well open the way for further breaches.
Whether or not it is a technical violation of Shabbos, it
certainly runs contrary to the spirit of Shabbos.
In their appeal to the Shabbos-observant clients of the bank,
they write: "We have learned that the executive board of Bank
Mizrachi intends to breach the walls of the Shabbos while
offending the sensitivities of thousands of its Shabbos
observant clients. Since we area able to prevent this in
advance, by the issuing of a sharp and adamant protest which
will be sent to all those involved in the decision, the
bank's clients are asked to participate in the effort on
behalf of Shabbos kodesh."
This manifesto, which was circulated in centers throughout
the country, contains Yated Ne'eman's article on the
issue, as well as the following text, which will be sent to
the executive board of the bank: "We the undersigned, the
clients of the bank, hereby express our protest over the
serious breach in the walls of the Shabbos soon to be
perpetrated in the Savyonim shopping mall, by the operating
of an ATM on Shabbos. We the steady clients of your bank,
joined it only because it is a religious bank which honors
Shabbos and the values of religion. The main reason we joined
it is that all of the installations and activities of the
bank do not function on Shabbos. We hereby ask you to
continue to preserve the tradition of the bank and not to
cause us to protest or to incur losses to the bank, by our
leaving it."
Reuven Adler, the assistant senior general director of Bank
Mizrachi responded that the bank observes Shabbos and
religious practices strictly. "No employee of the bank
(religious, secular or non-Jewish) works on Shabbos or on
holidays. The bank continues to maintain its religious
character, and we have no intention of offending the
sensitivities of our religious and chareidi clients."
Adler claimed that "in order not to offend our religious and
chareidi clientele, we consulted the Chief Rabbi of Israel,
who referred us to the Tsomet Institute, which has made a
comprehensive study of the topic of leaving ATM open on
Shabbos, that is, of not closing it on erev Shabbos or
erev yom Tov, as distinct from opening up an automatic
banking machine."
The bank also said that "even if a number of ATM's will
remain open on Shabbos, they will be situated in non-chareidi
or non-religious areas. By the same token, the bank intends
to fully heed the limitations and reservations presented in
the halachic statement of opinion of the Tsomet Institute.
The machine will function completely automatically, without
human intervention."
Mr. Adler also noted, "Other banks in Israel actively offer
services on Shabbos, something which Bank Mizrachi doesn't do
and doesn't intend to do. But until now, there has been no
outcry whatsoever on the part of the religious and chareidi
clients of those other banks regarding the services they
offer on Shabbos and yom tov."
Those customers who joined Bank Mizrachi because of its
special attitude towards Shabbos are very upset by this
latest move of their bank in trying to compete with the other
banks by offering services on Shabbos, even with some sort of
heter. However, one of the avreichim said, "It
is surprising that the chareidi clients of other banks which
desecrate Shabbos don't protest."
