Activists worked hard - and the cafe will be closed on Shabbos

The Hadarim Café in Rishon Lezion which infuriated the ultra-Orthodox residents of the city last Shabbos, when their doors were open wide to passers-by, and dragged waves of protest - came to an end. The coffee shop decided to close the place for the next Shabbos.


According to local activists, the owner is of Russian origin - apparently cut off from any connection to Judaism, and he did not intend to direct provoke or challenge. "Not far away, in a mixed neighborhood, a a private swimming pool is running on Shabbos. Apparently the man thought that he could catch the swimmers, who will come for coffee after swimming", said one of them.

Since the Friday night protest, activists acted vigorously against the cafe. One of them has learned that the man's business license is also placed in doubt, due to flaws when receiving the certificate. That way the activists who negotiated with him, could use the carrot and stick method. On one hand, they told the man that they know he has problems with his license, and if he does not close the place on Shabbos, it can thwart the operation of the business during the week. On the other hand, they explained the pleasantness of Shabbos and holiness, and tried to reason with him that keeping Shabbos is only to his benefit.

As mentioned, eventually it did the trick, and the man gave in. "Next Shabbos, silence will return to prevail in the neighborhood," he promised.


"This case shows that we must not be silent when a Shabbos rule is broken. Often when a struggle is played wisely and calmly, it can reap success," say the activists with satisfaction.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!