Tel Aviv Restauranteurs Announce They’ll Open Tisha B’Av Eve ‘To Protest Judicial Reforms’

In a controversial attempt to protest the judicial reforms being passed in Israel, several prominent Tel Aviv restauranteurs announced that they will open business as usual Wednesday evening, the eve of Tisha B’Av. The restaurant owners came under criticism both from supporters and opposers of the judicial reforms, who denounced their lack of sensitivity to Jewish history.

Chef Yuval Ben-Neria was quoted in Calcalist as saying, “I had no hesitation, we are open all year round, celebrating the free market, so in the evening we will open the restaurants as usual. In light of the events of the last few days, I feel it is my moral duty to remain loyal to my clientele, who has been fighting fiercely for 30 weeks in the streets of Tel Aviv, right in front of my restaurant, about the nature of the country and our right to live in a democratic and liberal country.”

“This is a very tough time for all of us, both as citizens and as business owners in an industry that has been dramatically affected by the demonstrations and the spirit of disenfranchisement in which the public lives. Therefore, if there is one thing I feel I must do it is stay true to myself. And today more than ever. I also call on our guests to come and express their protest in this way.”

“On this occasion, I call on Mayor Huldai to keep Tel Aviv free and not to impose fines on businesses that will open. I also call on him to consider businesses that have been at the forefront of the war on democracy for 30 weeks or more and to immediately give concessions on property tax and other payments. We are the front line of the struggle and are entitled to the support of the municipality that will allow us to go through this crisis together.”

Chef Haim Cohen commented: “We open in the evening not to mock or upset anyone. I don’t think there is a protest here. The restaurants have suffered in the last six months, suffering a decrease in work and losses of 35% on average, and there are some that lost more. We are already seeing cafes that are closing or changing owners, and this is the real reason. It is no longer possible to work alone and no one is pleased to turn to the state for help, but I will still do it after the recess in the Knesset on behalf of the restaurants.”

The director of the Government Advertising Bureau, Moriah Shalom, responded on Facebook, “Well done! You upset the religious, you showed them who is in charge. ‘We will feed our nation even on Tisha B’Av,’ cries the chef because this is the real protest! What do you want your children to grow up to be? What is their history? What is their legacy? Who exactly are you trying to hurt?”

Moshe Radman, one of the leaders of the hi-tech protests against judicial reforms, wrote: “Kudos to the restauranteurs for joining the struggle but in my humble opinion this is not the way. Tisha B’Av is not the day of the religious fanatics running our government, it is a day for the entire Jewish nation whereever it is. One can protest chareidi wheeling and dealing like Badatz and other supervisions or the rabbinate but not desecrate Jewish days of festivity and mourning.

Tel Aviv vice mayor Chaim Goren also sharply criticized the restaurants who decided to open, stating “Did’nt we learn anything? Tisha B’Av is a national day of morning for the Jewish people for generations and whoever harms it is first and foremost harming the memory of his ancestors and all the previous generations who underwent harsh calamities on this day. I call on the entire public, including participants in protests: Don’t take part in this despicable act. This is a violation of the law but more important, an attempt to spread hatred and harm national solidarity which is the last common denominator keeping us united. Do you want to actively bring destruction?”

According to the 1998 law prohibiting the opening of recreational facilities on Tisha B’Av, and the amendment from 2002, restaurants, bars, and any place defined as a restaurant will be closed on the eve of Tisha B’Av, and business owners who do not obey the law can be fined.

“Notwithstanding what is stated in any law, a local authority shall be authorized to establish a bylaw that prohibits the holding of public recreational activities on the day of mourning or the opening of restaurants on the night of the day of mourning, from the beginning of mourning until sunrise the next day,” the law states.

The law even gives the local authorities the authority to appoint inspectors who will be in charge of enforcing the law and will fine those who violate it NIS 2,600.