Sabbath business vandalism spreads beyond Jerusalem as tensions escalate

Vandalism targeting businesses that operate on the Sabbath is no longer confined to Jerusalem, where ultra-Orthodox protesters recently rioted at a café in the capital. The owner of Bandit bar in Ramat Gan, whose coffee shop has been torched three times, has reached out to fellow business owners in Tel Aviv and expressed her solidarity with them. “This is a cause I simply don’t want to champion,” she said, suggesting reluctance to become embroiled in the broader religious tensions surrounding Sabbath observance. The escalating incidents include a gelato shop in Herzliya that was set on fire and has since decided to close on Saturdays, whilst the southern city of Dimona has also experienced similar disruptions. The vandalism reflects deepening rifts between secular business owners who operate seven days a week and ultra-Orthodox communities who view Sabbath desecration as a violation of Jewish religious law. Business owners caught in the crossfire say they are simply trying to make a living and provide services their customers demand. “We came to offer entertainment and provide a place for people to gather,” one owner explained. “Perhaps because of the elections, people are allowing themselves more freedom,” she speculated, suggesting that the current political climate may be contributing to heightened tensions and reduced social restraint among protesters.

Source: Ynet — Original article in Hebrew.