Where's the coercion here exactly? The owner of the property can do what he likes with his property. Since when does the demand of some anti-religious groups override the right of private property and personal rights that these same liberal groups usually defend? Want a cafe open on Shabbat? How about you actually buy a property and stop whining about people who don't let you use their property. Grow up.

i will raise a bread sandwich this pessach as my reply to religious coercion. They might have won the battle but they will never win the war.

I can understand both sides.

kvetch, kvetch and more kvetch. don't give me that bull. if the restaurant is so popular so just find another location. Many good restaurants have moved and continued in business. If your restaurant is sosooo popular no need to kvetch, move and re-open and don't blame your fate on others.

For once I am with the Hareidi on this one. This is not a 'religious' coercion made up by the Hareidi!! It is written in the Torah which Hashem himself made as a Law and commanded us to keep!! 'Do not work on the Sabbath Day!!" So argue this case with Him!!

What if the property owner would have insisted on shutting it down on Christmas and Easter, but keep it open on Yom Kippur? What if he would have insisted serving pork? What if he would have insisted not serving wine and keeping it shut during Ramadan? What if he would have insisted to permit entrance to Muslims only, or whites only? Do you think it would be constitutional in the US for a property owner to condition prolonging a rental contract on religious coercion?

Hypocrisy at it's best.

More properties will become available once the state welfare subsidization of the Charedi community grinds to a halt. This will hopefully happen soon now that they are out of the coalition.

Because contray to the beleif's of close minded indivisuals like you, many Haredim work, pay taxes and are productive members of society. ....I know the press dosen't want you to know that.

The secular Jewish population may now have to move out of west Jerusalem since there is no place left to where they can behave like Gentiles.. But. I know.. they can move to east jerusalem and enjoy all the activites of our arab neighbors on shabbos.. what a wonderful solution..

Charedi factions offer differ, sometimes significantly. Satmar and Belz, for instance, are involved with the diamond trade, polishing and cutting and shaping the gems. They are both known to be particularly insular and, also, quite wealthy. It could have been one of them who bought the physical premises of the restaurant.

I am completely secular, but a private owner can do what he wants with his property. Plenty of locations in Jerusalem for the Cafe. I hate religious hypocracy like not supporting your family, sponging off the middle class etc, but really, come on?

Exactly which restaurant are you going to boycott? The restaurant is closed.

Could it be 'poetic justice' that the cafe that fought to sell chometz to Jews on Pesach closed down just before Pesach. They generated contempt for Judaism and then complain when the observant Jewish owner of the building is fed up.

It's part of the business world that leases expire and are not always renewed. So find another location.

you only harm yourself. It is you who is losing the battle and the war. Unfortunately, when you wise up and realize it, it will be too late.

In America a person renting property cannot discriminate based on religion, rase or sex. How would the ha dark community react if a property owner refused to rent base upon religious beliefs. Basis is a two way street. For three years this owner did not have a problem taking "nonkosher" monies.

3,500 years since the Exodus and eating only matzah, Many of our brethren went to the sword rather than eat chometz. This clown is proud of forcing the courts to allow the sale of bread on Pesach in Jerusalem. I am secular but respect our traditions and history so should he.

and keep your businees open!!

everyday i read about all the nonsense in Israel. Please start to Progress!!!!

Restobar should look for another place for rent ,instead of bashing a religious Jew who acts according his principles .

have the place he owns non Kosher is secular coercion and not the opposite.

Guy owns something, says if you want to use it you have to do X, Y, Z. You don't want to do X, Y, Z...so he says you can't use his property. Religion has nothing to do with it. Dumb article with a one-sided slant.

You're right Jeff - the owner can do anything he want with his property - in this case I hope very much the place will stay empty and the owner will learn a fact or two about commerce.

many israelis have this notion that haredim are beggars. here, you have an evidently wealthy haredi who owns the property. my experience in new york is that haredim will ultimately be a very powerful force in the israeli economy. they value and nuture family businesses and over time will be more wealthy than secular israelis who depend on jobs and professions to make money. that works well over perhaps 10-30 years, but in the long term capital businesses do better since the money gets reinvested and grows exponentially. with a job or profession, your income is fixed mostly and goes down when you get old. it doesnt allow transfer across generations like a business does.

The only democracy in the mid-east!! Correction the only jewish style democracy.

Not in civilised countries ,... You can't discriminate in US if it's a rental property - They won't accept your add in the newspaper or rental brochure if there's any hint that you're trying to exclude anyone that's willing to pay and rent ,...