Calls to boycott Dankner over Shabbat desecration
IDB group owner faces haredi boycott threats because some of his companies work on Shabbat. But source in ultra-Orthodox sector believes threats are 'nothing but a children's prank'
Pashkavils (posters) accusing businessman Nochi Dankner of being "the greatest Shabbat desecrator of all" have been distributed in Bnei Brak and in Jerusalem's ultra-orthodox neighborhood on Passover eve.
Dankner is the owner of the Yesh supermarket chain which caters to the haredi market.
According to the posters, many businesses owned by Dankner's IDB group work on Shabbat and also facilitate Shabbat desecration by others.
These businesses include cellular service provider Cellcom, which operates its customer service on Saturdays, and Israir airline and Natur tour operator, which organize trips on weekends.
Unlike the haredi boycott threats on the Blue Square supermarket chain, which were initiated by the Rabbinic Committee for the Sanctity of the Shabbat, the recent posters have not been signed by any organization.
A source in the haredi sector estimated that the pashkavils were "nothing more than a children's prank."
A spokesperson for Shufersal, which operates Yesh, said in response: "This move is part of the unfair competition launched by interested parties in the food industry that are jealous of the Sheufersal chain's success."
Dankner has throughout the years managed to maintain good ties wit the ultra-Orthodox community despite the fact that several of his companies work on Shabbat.
Shufersal recently went back on an earlier decision to buy 19% of the Steimatzky bookshop chain, which operates on Saturdays, after receiving threats from the Committee for the Sanctity of the Shabbat.
