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Ramat Hasharon to force mall to close on Shabbat after religious controversy

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • A court case regarding Shabbat business closures at the BIG Fashion Glilot mall was dismissed after Ramat Hasharon agreed to enforce its bylaw.
  • The city had initially argued the bylaw was outdated but later committed to enforcement, prompting the court to remove the petition.
  • Petitioners may return if the new enforcement policy proves ineffective, as the court did not rule on the policy's actual impact.

Ramat Hasharon has agreed to enforce its long-standing Shabbat business-closure bylaw at the BIG Fashion Glilot mall, leading a court to dismiss a petition that sought to compel such action. The Tel Aviv-Jaffa District Court removed the case after the municipality and its mayor, Yitzhak Rochberger, stated they would uphold the 1967 bylaw.

the municipality had changed its position during the case. It initially argued that the 1967 bylaw no longer suited the city or the commercial complex, whereas it now accepts that the law remains in force and says it has adopted an enforcement policy.

— Judge Gilad HessExplaining the reason for dismissing the petition, highlighting the city's change in stance.

This decision marks a shift for the city, which had previously argued that the bylaw was no longer suitable for the area or the commercial complex. However, it has now adopted an enforcement policy, satisfying the central aim of the petitioners' case. Judge Gilad Hess noted the municipality's change of stance during the proceedings.

The ruling does not guarantee that BIG Glilot will close on Saturdays, nor did the judge definitively assess the effectiveness of Ramat Hasharon's new enforcement policy. Petitioners Boris Cohen and the Hapoel Mizrachi organization, who filed the case in May 2025, reserve the right to return to court if they deem the enforcement insufficient.

the petition’s central aim had been met.

— Judge Gilad HessStating that the court case's primary objective was achieved by the city's agreement to enforce the bylaw.

The dispute originated from calls for a boycott by haredi groups against the mall's Saturday openings, countered by arguments that residents of the secular area should have the freedom to shop. Ramat Hasharon's legal adviser had previously stated the city was obligated to enforce the bylaw, while Rochberger contended the law was outdated. The city's pursuit of an amended bylaw to permit broader Shabbat commerce has yet to receive approval, leaving the existing bylaw in force.

a municipality cannot ignore a bylaw requiring businesses to close on days of rest.

— Judge Gilad HessAffirming the legal principle that municipalities must enforce existing bylaws.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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