The Israeli "Shefa" - supermarket is still under a Cherem (ban).
As I wrote many times before, the "Shefa" market belongs to the "Dor - Alon Group" which also owns the famous supermarket chain "AM:PM". And "AM:PM" is the real problem, as it is also open on Shabbat. If you go to Tel Aviv or Ramat Gan today, the "AM:PM" seems to me almighty. There is hardly any corner without a branch. The products are generally kosher but not the opening hours on Shabbat.
The "Shefa" customers, however, are mostly Haredim or national religious and Rabbi Eliyashiv as well as the Gerer Rebbe, Rabbi Yaakov Aryeh Alter, decided to place a ban on the "Shefa". As long as the "Dor Alon - Group" keeps its "AM:PM" open on Shabbat, "Shefa" is under a Cherem.
"Shefa - Market"
I don't know how "Shefa" is dealing with all the financial losses and sometimes we even forget about the ban. Is it still valid or not ?
Ten days ago, I walked through Bnei Brak and I became more than aware of the ban's validity. Posters everywhere and the Cherem has been constantly renewed.
Tel Aviv papers have been recently reporting about a new haredi ban. Another trefe (unkosher) supermarket owner (I think it is Arkadi Gaydamak) is planning to build a huge branch of "Tiv Ta'am" right next to a haredi neighbourhood in Tel Aviv. The haredi population, on the other hand, sees its real estate prices shrinking. Which Haredi would buy a house near a trefe supermarket ? And, who at all, wants to live near such a place, let alone its customers ?
The latest case is Haifa where a new haredi ban might be coming up. Haifa decided in favour of certain public buses running on Shabbat. This is nothing new, as those buses have been running on Shabbat for years. The passengers claim that those buses neither run through haredi neighbourhoods nor disturb anyone else.
The point I want to make is not to favour or oppose haredi bans but I am rather having a question.
Why do the Haredim only start banning or judging when everything is already taking place ? Why not before ?
"Tiv Ta'am" has been selling pork for years and no one said a word.
"AM:PM" has been open on Shabbat for years and the actual ban only started a few months ago.
The Haifa buses have been running for years and now haredi rabbis are complaining.
Where were all the complaints and all the modesty police squads before ? Do they only act when the "trefe" is moving closer to haredi neighbourhoods ?
Where are the complaints or demonstration against a place called "The Kingdom of Pork Factory" near the Central Bus Station in Tel Aviv ? Where have all the protests against the non - kosher stores in Jerusalem's Agrippas gone ? Why is everyone complaining now ? Is it just politics, as usual ?
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