A shabbat Table
A shabbat TableMendi Hochsman - Flash 90

Professor Aviad HaCohen, Dean of the Academic Center of Law and Science, responded on Wednesday to the soon-to-be released report of the Director General's committee, which is generally expected to recommend allowing commerce on Shabbat in Tel Aviv.

HaCohen warned that broadening commerce on Shabbat will not just have negative economic ramifications but will also have ethical, social and educational implications. "This has been the situation for many years now but this will be the death certificate for the official day of rest in Israel.

"With regard to activating businesses on Shabbat there are ramifications beyond the economic sphere, as well as changes in the public image of the state of Israel." he said

According to Professor HaCohen, broadening the permit for commerce on Shabbat will hurt the weaker members of society who will be forced often against their will to work on Shabbat and will not be able to rest with their families. It will also hurt the small businesses which will not be able to compete with the larger chains.

"A lack of distinction between commerce and entertainment as well as the initiation of public transport on Shabbat could cause the collapse of the last vestiges of the 'sovereign' day of rest." warns HaCohen. "Due to the importance of the subject and its complexity and sensitivity, dramatic changes such as these ought to be implemented with wide social support and after a profound discussion of all the ramifications. They should not be implemented through legislation and the courts."

It should be noted that according to reports, the committee of Director-Generals pf government ministries is expected to put forward three recommendations which will allow commerce on Shabbat in Tel Aviv.

One recommendation is to implement a municipal by-law which would allow the opening of 160 businesses on Shabbat. Another suggestion is to allow the opening of convenience stores while a third suggestion is to restrict permits given by the Tel Aviv municipality. Each of these recommendations does not relate to closing down existing businesses on Shabbat.

Prof. HaCohen emphasized that "as long as the final recommendations have not been published and the necessary changes in law have been implemented, it is worth looking carefully at the full scope of the ramifications of these recommendations. Despite this, if the recommendations are as has been publicized, they spell out an official announcement of the death of Shabbat as the official day of rest in the state of Israel."