If the Committee for Shabbat does not like the sponsor - then they should offer to replace them. This is a simple issue that they could solve by offering up the cash directly of via a sympathetic alternative sponsor. Failing that they should keep quiet.

Israel does not dance to the Haredi tune. Tuff luck!

The Tel Aviv Municipality is made of imbecile people.These Meretzim are just odious,stupid people.They should be arrested for incitment in the only Jewish State !Their great pleasure is to create discordy among Jews.It is revolting!

Aah, poor religious people. Is their will and belief so weak that they may accidentally go shopping after synagogue! What a load of crap. Tel Aviv is a city that is famous for never sleeping. The whole point of a democratic state is freedom to choose. They can choose NOT to go shopping, but who the hell are they to stop people who want to? Don't like it - go and live in Meir Sharim or Bnei Brak.

...I always said the haredim don't want to compromise. Their slogan is "It's my way, or the highway." Question? Were any of the founders of Tel Aviv haredim?

If the jews over the millenia had not observed Shabbos there would not be jews left today and no state of Israel today,how sad that you all have no respect for our religion, you might a well be living anywhere else in the world. There were may Chassidic Courts functioning in the early days of Tel Aviv, read yr history

Israeli commentators on Ynet are beginning to sound like ignorant British antisemites.

Maybe these same people should organize a pig barbecue on the Shabbat , to prove their elevated liberal values. Hey I mean Tel Aviv is the light among the nations in its worship off liberalism and it has to prove itself , that Hellenism is their religion. As a real gift , we should help them to move to Uganda were they can really fulfill their secular liberal destiny.

some pathetic talkbackers seem to have YNET as their sole source of information. Try to read about all the hilony cohersiveness at datiim/hareidim. Datiim/hareidim are not forcing anyone to anything, they just announced zero interest to participate in celebrations at shull, given the entity who is partially sponsoring them. For liberal Tel Avivians, choosing to boycott should come only natural. . . Why do they panic? Who else if not religious will fill up the shull and pray on the event/?? None the less I want to point out I do see the posstive side. Celebrating with a massive prayer to G-d in thanks is a far better option than having a gay parade / massive disco dancing and trance/ ecstasy parties so well known in TA (no offence please) I'll make my best to participate MAZEL TOV !!!

# A luau with roast pig #2 a pork rib barbecue # 3 a gay orgy in the streets #4 all the prostitutes in Tel Aviv offering free service #5 Distributing free drugs #6 Free passes to the SMBD Dungeon and the x- rated movie theaters and #7 to top it all off a Mardi Gras parade

...should be the ones in Uganda -- for all they respec they show for tthe State of Israel by tossing soiled diapers on the police, walking when the memorial day sirens go off, refusing to serve in the Armed Forces and living off the backs of the average taxpayer.

You only bring stories to incite against the observant. Why the story about this chemistry prof. at Hebrew U who cut the eruv in Jerusalem causing distress to a large segment is missing from YNET???

Most of the country can't stand the boring self centred t.avivnikim and the sad 'namal'nikim time wasters. Take away their pubs and they have no raison d'etre. They'll need to turn the synagogue into a gloomy pub and open it late in the day when they usually start slouching around in the crocs 'n socks and faded 'trainingim' , hoping to be photographed for some dubious style column somewhere.

Recently my 21 year old cousin from Toronto came to visit me in Israel. Of course he loved seeing the biblical and historical Jewish landmarks. Yet he also wanted to see the Tel Aviv night life and that included a strip club. While we were in the strip club there was a mechanical problem with lights on the stage. The management then turned on all the lights in the very dark club. I was amazed to see that at least half of the clients were Haredi. I am not saying that there is anything wrong with Haredim going to strip clubs yet maybe you should not condemn Israel's largest city just because it is a secular place.

in that titi bar? And you're a Dr...Let me guess you were there to take the BP of the stippers. Here in la belle province we get lap dances for $10 amd beer is $5 a glass. Viva La Quebec

You are well aware of the prices . Regular visitor ?

and the hara-dim are famous for not working and draft dodging.

Isreali visitors. Its my job to be able to quote prices. You can always contact me. My website is www.wonderingisraelischmek.com

Judaism is not the only way to be Jewish. It is not antisemitic to be non-religious.

Perhaps the solution to the problem would be to give the ultra-Orthodox their own territory. That way they can govern it in any way they see fit and protect it with their own lives. And if they want to run it like some 18th century European ghetto, so be it. Just allow the rest of Israel to live in peace, and let Israelis do what they want without the constant haranguing from these religious zealots.

"Judaism is not the only way to be Jewish. " Greatest oxymoron I have ever seen.

we have enough problems as it is. With all this stress, I want to be able to ride a bus and eat whatever I want in a free country....oh yeah, and not pay taxes that go to your schools and not fight alongside you. Keep complaining about every little thing and society will cut you off eventually. The Messiah has not arrived yet, and there is not divine Sanhedrin. SO get to work and join the army! Ill respect you when you respect me.

...because being haredi does not give you exclusive rights. Any secular Israeli is no less a Jew than you, probably more since stands with both feet on the real world. Live your life as you wish, but let me live mine my way!

Any takers?

Tel Aviv was founded as "the first Jewish city" in 2000 years - back in the early years there was still basic respect for Jewish values - now there's nothing Jewish any more about the city - they might as well offer up sacrifices to the Greek gods. This is not a celebration - it's more like a funeral for a city that died long ago and all that is left is an empty superficial shell no different fro New York or San Francisco.