Why am I in favor of the Shabbat Law too?

MK Mickey Zohar's proposal "the weekly day of rest" was approved this week at the Ministerial Committee for Legislative Affairs. The bill is supposed to clear the legislature that Shabbat is not only a religious matter, but an all-Israeli issue. Its great value is in the statement to the legal system that is no longer possible fight for the necessity of a weekly rest day for everyone, under the guise of liberalization values. The value of Shabbat as a weekly day of rest, is not a luxury of the wealthy and middle class society, but the right of everyone everywhere.

Turning Shabbat into a day of trading seriously compromises those whom Shabbat is important to and does not want to open his business on Saturday. For many secular, traditional and religious, the family and community is important, many of them wish Shabbat to be declared a day of rest without competition. However, their fellow traders who wish to trade on Shabbat open their businesses "and take the whole pot." This is not a hypothetical danger. Hundreds of businesses have closed down since Shabbat turned into a trading day in every way - a fatal, unfair blow which rewards those who decided to break the law.

Making Shabbat into a day of trade harms a person's right to leisure, a time of growth and time with his family. We talk a lot about the cost of living and the right to housing, but everyone is entitled to have a time to live, not just in the labor market. Rest and recreation are a true expression of freedom, and that requires protection against employers who increasingly accept to work only those willing to work on Saturdays. A person can work privately on Shabbat, and that is his freedom. No one doubts that in our democratic Jewish state. However, we must ask ourselves honestly, who are we more committed to protect - the right of all of us to family life, or the right to buy what we want and when we want?

In practice, persons employed on Shabbat are poor employees and single mothers. Shabbat has become their way to complete their basic lackings. In view of this, the question arises: Is it not right to give this issue a root treatment? Is the situation in which a man sells his day off to allow his basic living conditions, not flawed? Not every transaction is allowed. There are prohibited transactions. To trade a person's right to family life is not something to be taken lightly. Indeed, crime leads. Bringing people to a situation in which they sell their little time to ensure a minimum survival is an offense, taking the privilege of Shabbat is another offense. In face of this, one has to start the process in reverse. Protecting some of a person's time as non-negotiable, will stimulate the need to fight for worthy living conditions. A person's meeting with his dignity will empower him and get him out of the cycle of survival in which he is found, to the demand that others do not steal his work, his dignity, and enable him to make a decent living.

From this starting point, we went out and reached a long way to the Gavison-Medan Treaty which brought about an important agreement about the character of Shabbat, recreational culture-yes, while trade - no. I imagine that one can remark and discuss regarding this agreement, and there is no denying it does not prevent employment of any kind at all, with all this, this is a significant agreement. However, the uneasy question that lies before us is what about those secular Jews became accustomed to buying on Shabbat, and trade has become routine for them on Saturday. Should one enforce and ignore the bitterness? Indeed, as someone who observes Shabbat it is important to me that Shabbat will instill peace, in our time, unfortunately, the phrase "War of Shabbat" creates the exact opposite outcome. Therefore it requires wisdom, sensitivity and consideration – it requires a compromise to bridge the gaps.

The bill by MK Mickey Zohar is clear and well established as far as I understand, and yet I see it directed first and foremost to the judiciary, and to the heads of the authorities to apply trends that change local routines. Where they've become accustomed, I think that wise enforcement, dialogue of neighbors and citizens will take us to another place. At the same time it will be possible to find a time when one can buy and sell. It may be Sunday in the framework of a long weekend, or Tuesday afternoon. In this situation one could open all businesses, which could increase the diversity, will increase competition between merchants and shoppers will benefit.

Dr. Meir Buzaglo is chairman of Tikun movement

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!