The Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv and former Chief Rabbi of Israel, HaRav Yisroel Meir Lau, sent a letter to the mayor of Tel Aviv, Ron Chuldai, asking that he stop the pending amendment to local laws allowing grocery stores to operate on Shabbos and Yom Tov. In his letter, he notes: "The outcry of Shabbos bursts forth from the very chambers of my heart and I cannot remain silent. The bill before you will not only cause chillul Shabbos but perhaps even its abolishment, chas vesholom."
He further writes that the decision is a breach of the very way of life for the city which was established 105 years ago. "Let us weigh what hangs here in the balance pending your decision." He states that he never appealed to the mayor before but this time he establishes a precedent because "I cannot remain silent."
HaRav Lau's letter is pursuant to the approval by the Tel Aviv municipality administration two weeks ago enabling the operation of businesses on Shabbos. This decision determines that the municipality shall define how many shops will be allowed to remain open on each central street, according to the number of supermarkets that are already illegally open on Shabbos.
The city's bill followed a decision of the civil court which directed the city to establish such an amendment. This was in response to complaints from small business owners who had to pay huge fines every Shabbos while the large supermarkets succeeded in paying those very fines without blinking.
The small grocery owners argued that they would like to remain closed on Shabbos but the major supermarkets constitute a heavy competition. This is why they asked the Supreme Court to intervene and order the city to close all of the supermarkets on Shabbos and Yom Tov. Instead, the Supreme Court directed the city to amend the law and have all shops closed. The Tel Aviv municipality preferred to defy the law by altogether altering the amendment so as to actually allow the supermarkets to conduct their business on Shabbos.
In his letter, HaRav Lau evoked the position of Tel Aviv's first mayor, Meir Dizengoff, who was not religious but nonetheless declared that he was altogether opposed to public chillul Shabbos in the city. Dizengoff wrote: "Whoever strikes at Shabbos, is striking at the very unity of Jewry." At this point, no response has been forthcoming from the mayor of Tel Aviv.
