What are the different Shabbat and weekend activities like in various cities across the country?
A new annual report titled “Urban Shabbat Analysis” by NGO Israel Hofsheet, published Monday, has some answers at a time when public debate rages over the fine line – or convergence – between the “Jewish” and “democratic” values of the State of Israel.
It listed at peak performance (a maximum of six points by Israel Hofsheet’s rankings) the municipalities of Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Herzliya, Givatayim, and Ramat Hasharon, the latter of which was boosted greatly by the opening of the BIG Glilot shopping center, which saw 70,000 visitors alone on Saturday and over 150,000 throughout the opening weekend.
Pushback rolled in from ultra-Orthodox (haredi) factors, including a letter signed by several rabbis, against stores operating on Shabbat. The legal adviser to the municipality wrote in an advisory opinion at the time that municipal inspectors will have to fine the shops that were open.
Ramat Hasharon mayor Yitzhak Rochberger clarified that the municipality would permit commercial activity at the shopping center and even issued a policy document to amend its municipal bylaw on the matter.
The management at BIG said at the time, “We were never disturbed by threats from the haredi sector... We respect all opinions and don’t force anyone to open on Shabbat or work then... The State of Israel, in our view, is supposed to be a place where each citizen has agency over their actions.”
Rochberger said, “Ramat Hasharon is a free city that respects all of its residents and their faiths.”
The report focuses on 53 of the largest Jewish, non haredi municipalities
This is the third such annual ranking report that analyzes Shabbat freedoms. This report specifically examined the 53 largest Jewish, non-ultra-Orthodox municipalities from the North to the South.
Israel Hofsheet executive director Uri Keidar said, “Municipalities, and their leaders, are the decisive factor in shaping the Israeli Shabbat. The difference between a leadership that chooses an inclusive Shabbat for all residents and one that dictates a Shabbat tailored for a narrow demographic is clear.”
The report analyzes three main areas: public transportation, commerce, and cultural and leisure activities. Public transportation addresses the question of whether intra-city and inter-city municipal-supported public transportation operates on Shabbat.
Commerce assesses what weekend activities look like, such as the opening of grocery stores and restaurants, and whether municipalities have changed bylaws to allow them.
For culture and leisure activities, the NGO assessed whether municipalities operated or funded Shabbat activities.
These include sports, outdoor events, and whether community centers, swimming pools, and municipal institutions such as theaters, cinemas, libraries, and youth centers are open on Shabbat.
At a second ranking of five points were the municipalities of Eilat, Hod Hasharon, Kfar Saba, Modi’in-Maccabim-Reut, Haifa, Kiryat Ono, Kiryat Motzkin, Ramat Gan, and Ra’anana.
Ra’anana specifically hopped up in the rankings due to the municipality joining the “Na’im Basofash” weekend transport network and operating intra-city and inter-city bus lines.
Kiryat Ono also saw an improvement due to its municipally supported Shabbat transport, though only intercity lines are operational.
At four points were several municipalities, like Holon, Ness Ziona, Rishon Lezion, Nof Hagalil, and Kiryat Bialik. At three points – and with some improvements – were Jerusalem, Ashdod, Bat Yam, Beersheba, Tiberias, Acre, Karmiel, Nahariya, Ramle, and Netanya.
At two points were Lod, Rehovot, Ashkelon, Dimona, Hadera, Afula, and Kiryat Gat. The latter two have grocery stores open on Shabbat. At the one-point range were Pardes Hanna-Karkur, Yavne, Or Yehuda, Rosh Ha’ayin, Be’er Ya’acov, and Ma’aleh Adumim.
Municipalities that were found to be completely shut down on Shabbat were Ofakim, Sderot, Netivot, Beit Shemesh, Safed – which is seeing a rise in haredi residents – Harish, and Kiryat Yam.
“The public must demand from its representatives, even at the municipal level, a Shabbat that reflects their way of life and not give up the right to a Shabbat free from religious coercion,” said Keidar.