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Super-Pharm store
Photo: Alex Kolomoiski
Slomiansky: Boycott for violating Shabbat
Photo: Alex Kolomoiski

Religious groups plan to boycott Super-Pharm

Religious, haredi groups infuriated over drugstore chain keeping branches open on Saturdays, violating Shabbat; call on consumers to boycott chain

Religious and haredi organizations have recently decided to launch a "consumer war" against the Super-Pharm drugstore chain after having discovered that many of the chain's branches stay open on Saturdays.

 

The first step was initiated by Knesset Member Nissan Slomiansky (National Union-National Religious Party) and is aimed at fighting the violation of the holy Shabbat day.

 

Slomiansky explained that "since stores do not have a kashrut certification like restaurants, the religious-haredi public is unaware that they operate on Saturdays, buys there, and consequently takes part in violating the Shabbat."

 

Slomiansky managed to harness the support of several rabbis, who joined him in calling on the religious community not to shop at the chain's stores.

 

Data gathered by the MK reveal that some 60 percent of Super-Pharm's branches are open on Saturdays. Slomiansky has asked Health Minister Yaacov Ben-Yizri to attend to the matter, and demanded of Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Eli Yishai to inform the public that the chain is violating Shabbat days and holidays.

 

New Shabbat bill

 

The campaign to boycott the chain is being launched against the backdrop of the debate surrounding the new Shabbat bill, which is currently being discussed by the government. The bill stipulates that all commerce during Saturdays will be banned, while public transportation and recreational sites will be allowed to operate.

 

The initiative has angered many secular Israelis. "The religious circles are trying to hold us hostage," said Yael Dayan of Meretz, who serves as Tel Aviv's deputy mayor. "Israel does not have a long weekend like the rest of the world, and therefore commercial activities are a part of the citizens' only day off. No one is being forces to buy or work on a Saturday, but you can't forbid a person from doing what he wants on a Shabbat," she added.

 

Super-Pharm said in response: "The chain abides by the law and operates on Saturdays only those branches that are on call."

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 10.31.06, 23:49
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