I'm not a fan of Shas, or their attempt to create a theocracy, but obviously, to schedule this event at the beginning of Shabbat is provocative and in dreadful bad taste. It offends many, and achieves nothing.

if some people are so weak minded then they should be in diapers, cause that's the next thing to go.

Doesn't sound like this Shas minister knows much about science. But then again, what do you expect when the government keeps giving their schools millions and millions of dollars, even though they no longer commit to teaching basics, even elementary school math. They want to talk about 'poor content'? Perhaps they would have the license to be taken seriously addressing this issue if they bothered teaching their community any 'content' other than Torah. Tolerance also appears to be off the curriculum.

Mr De hartog that he is worse than nazis ? And if we criticise them , we are antisemites and so [ also their way of talking : insults ] They only show hatred towards secular Israel . Krawitz member of a party where most of the members contribute anything . Ishai , whose only goal is to take money from the hard working Israelis for his schools . Enough of their coercision .

The fact that the book launching is Shabbat is not to offend, but rather be part of an international launching. Those who don't want to buy on that day, don't need to buy. Those who don't want to sell on that day, don't need to sell.

I don't agree with the close-mindedness of Yishai who speaks of the "poor content" of the Harry Potter series, while ignoring some of the strange stuff in Jewish Mythology. But I suspect he's read few books outside the sacred canon. But one of the hallmarks for our people over the generations was its self-discipline - in matters of food, work, prayer, etc. - in favor of a higher good. Here, it seems, our lesser angels are dominant. "Don't make us wait; we want it NOW.", seems to be the operative theme. Never mind that the pent up demand will still be there Saturday night or Sunday, that Harry's fate will be the same. If the populace wants to work according to the world's cultural schedule, according to their values, then why are we here?

Man, shut up.

We waited for two years for the Seventh. We can wait several hours more. I'll receive mine in 12 days after release.

Let's see, there was the "bird-counting festival" and now Harry Potter. Israel can't be a "light unto the nations" unless it is up to date with every silly trend.

MK Cohen in the face. And if we criticise them, we are bigots and medieval knuckle draggers and wife beaters and so [only their way of talking: insults] They only show hatred towards the Judaism of Jewish Israel. Those of us who work and perform national service are stereotyped, we don't exist, we have no right to speak. Enough of your stereotyping and bigotry, stupid, irritating charles. Here I present my email to you, charles the stupid, now you send me the name of the "Female Religious Doctor" who gossiped to you about the private confidential conversations of her patients and I will send you the CV of my brother who has worked in ER in Israel and the US.

You are not HERE , you are THERE , in Galut [ i know what you mean by "here" ] where you probably be able to purchase this book before Shabbat . You probably do'nt know the people , if somethings comes out , they want to be the first to enjoy it .

The book sellers wouldn't think of violating a contract and to sell the book early, so why should they think that their preexisting contract to "Honor the Shabbat" be any less binding?

... intention to stage another "disengement" for Judea and Samaria. Oh wait ... Shas enthusiastically supported Peres. What scum.

On purpose the release is not on a Sunday, most countries (i.e. England) are Christian. So why are the ones who argue the same way in Israel called Ayatollas? Double standards?

on another line, on the Netanya chucking out smelly piggy products extension. Please answer her there.

The booksellers have a written contract with the editor /importer . They have no other written preexisting contract , as far as i know . And it are the editors where they living from .

In all the "Certified NON-KOSHER" pork stores.

hahaha, thanks

For me these people are no different then the ayatollas in Iran banning freedoms, whoever wants to "desecrate" shabbat is his problem with god and nobady elses to get involved in. Or what will I get fined for using my car on shabbat? come on these people dont live and dont let others live free. We respect them and their ceremonies, prayers and rituals, why dont they respect others who think a bit differently?

The worldwide launch is midnight UTC or midnight local time for those of us on the far side of the prime meridian; for Israel this is 2:00 AM on Shabbat. However there is nothing in the distributor agreement that dictates that this book must be placed on sale at that time; the restriction is on sales prior to that time. Individual sellers can choose their book launch times within these strictures. A retailer chooses to desecrate the Shabbat by selling a book and a buyer chooses to do likewise by purchasing a book - perhaps we should explore the core of the issue: Should mitzvoth observance be enforced by the state? If the answer is in the affirmative, then who is the arbiter of the degree of observance? What then is the appropriate penalty? Perhaps mangling the translation: “Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.” Since capital punishment was effectively banned by the Sanhedrin forty years before the destruction of the second temple, would lashes suffice? Should there be different sanctions for each of the lamed tet avot melachot or should separating two threads be treated differently from erasing? I have no doubt that we can surpass the Taliban, the Mutaween, and the Kashte Saralah in compelling fundamental observance to the law if that is our goal. The Harry Potter series can be read as an allegory on intolerance and the importance of moral choices. I would highly recommend purchasing these books – after Shabbat of course.

Ridiculous -it is being launched on a saturday night in the rest of the world so that children can stay up and take part in the celebrations and not have to get up to go to school in the morning. Nothing to do with Christian Sunday... most shops are open on sundays anyway... the event is taking part at night and most fans will spend the rest of the night reading the book... this is why it takes place at the weekend. You don't have to put a religious aspect into everything...

I think, they should forbid the sale of the book in Israel and give an exclusive to some store in Gaza. A 2 AM invasion by hordes of screaming, Israeli teenagers would put such a fear into Hamas, they'd drop everything and run all the way to Egypt, and Israel would get Gaza back without firing a single shot.

Witchcraft is forbidden in the Torah. Stop it! A "Christian" Torah keeper

I was going to say that Christians are free from only celebrating the Sabbath on Saturday, because we should make every day holy. Therefore., don't buy a book that does not glorify the Only One True G-d on any day! :-)

I thought Jews were the people of "The Book" and that was before Harry Potter. Then you don't seem much of a reader of any type so maybe the reference is too obscure for you. More seriously, the law of the land, meaning the State of Israel, is that it is illegal to open extra commerical activities on Friday night to Saturday night. The certainly pre-obligates them not to open on Shabbbat even if they were not also so obligated by their claiming to be Jewish.