A group of prominent ultra-Orthodox rabbis in Beit Shemesh is urging the public to boycott the city’s BIG shopping complex, even though it is closed on Saturdays, as part of a broader protest against the BIG chain due to the opening of its new center in Glilot, which operates on Shabbat.
The letter, signed by 15 rabbis, includes Rabbi Aryeh Rotenberg of the Gur community in Beit Shemesh, Rabbi Aryeh Fink of the Belz Hasidim, the Vizhnitz Rebbe of Beit Shemesh and other neighborhood and community rabbis.
“In light of the national management’s ongoing decision to trample the sanctity of Shabbat at the massive Glilot complex,” the rabbis wrote, “we feel compelled to warn again against supporting or shopping at any stores or chains that openly desecrate the Sabbath, even if some of their branches remain closed on Saturdays. These businesses degrade the holiness of the day and desecrate God’s name.”
The rabbis added that top Haredi leaders had already issued a sharp letter weeks ago forbidding purchases from chains that violate Shabbat, including BIG. “We wish to reinforce and strengthen that warning for the Haredi residents of Beit Shemesh who are faithful to God’s word and the sanctity of the Sabbath,” they wrote.
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Several major chains announced ahead of the Glilot center’s opening that they would not operate on Shabbat. Among them is fashion brand Zara, which opened its flagship store at the site, renting a massive 7,500-square-meter (over 80,000-square-foot) space for all its brands as Joey Schwebel, Zara’s Israeli franchise owner, observes the Shabbat.
Golf Group, which operates several stores at the Glilot center, also remains closed on Saturdays — even though some of its locations are open on Shabbat.
BIG CEO Chai Galis said before the launch that about 65% of businesses at the new Glilot complex would be open on Saturdays.
On the first weekend after opening, earlier this month, the center saw an influx of around 150,000 visitors. At one point on Saturday afternoon, BIG management issued a statement urging people not to come due to overcrowding: “The mall is at full capacity, roads are congested — we recommend visiting later in the week.”
BIG declined to comment to Ynet’s inquiry.