Page 6 - Ulpan Or E-Tone (16-01-18) Advaced Level

E-Tone™: Ulpan-Or Weekly News Digest

Item #1 (Advanced Level)

Is the Market Open on Shabbat?

Saturday is coming and you can be calm. This time too, you’ll be able to

stop by and catch up (on your) shopping. Today, every local authority

determines by a city by-law whether it allows or forbids the opening of
businesses on Shabbat. The Markets Bill, which was passed tonight, will

not intervene with existing by-laws, so what has been, is what will be. But

if a local authority would want to change its by-law in the future, it will
have to get the permission of the Minister of Internal Affairs. Convenience

stores in gas stations will remain open too, and the bill won’t apply to

them after all. So has the status-quo been harmed here? Depends on who
you ask. The ultra-orthodox argue that the bill will only create a stalemate

and not even one store will be closed. They’re right. The seculars argue
that this is breaking the status quo, because up until now municipalities

decided for themselves, and now the Minister of Internal Affairs, who

happens to be ultra-orthodox, will decide for them, or not at all. To make a
long story short, there’s not much new under the sun for now. What’s

certain is that our politicians have already gained some votes at the

expense of the rising tension between seculars and the ultra-orthodox.

Page 6 - Edition 01-16-18
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