Anti-Shabbos Movement in Eretz Yisroel Suffers Major Setback Following Fiery Knesset Speech by Lakewood Resident Duvi Honig

duvi honigThere has been lots of momentum in recent weeks in the halls of power in the Israeli government on behalf of protecting Shabbos observance among Israeli businesses and workers. The big break came on January 4th, when MK Bezalel Smotrich of the Habayit HaYehudi party, led by Education Minister Naftali Bennett, wrote an official letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu, in representation of his party, supporting the charedi parties’ position in support of Shabbos.

Previously, Habayit HaYehudi did not join its charedi counterparts who were battling the bills that would change the longstanding Israeli status quo in which shopping and business centers were closed on Shabbos, and employees could not be fired for their refusal to work on Shabbos.

This big move from Habayit HaYehudi came the day after Duvi Honig, Founder and Director of the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce, delivered a fiery speech in the halls of the Knesset. Reb Duvi led the Chamber’s “U.S.-Israel Business Alliance” mission, and utilized the mission’s Knesset symposium to implore Knesset members not to forsake Shabbos and the Torah on the altar of democracy, ch”v. “It is shameful to hear in the United States, on Chanuka, that the Knesset is debating a bill about firing people for not working on Shabbos,” Reb Duvi exclaimed. “This gives a statement of confusion to the world…If we don’t respect ourselves, how can we expect the world to respect us?”

MK Smotrich participated in that Knesset symposium, as well as other U.S.-Israel Business Alliance mission events. Reb Duvi and other members of the mission also met privately with Naftali Bennett and echoed these sentiments. As a result of the broadened opposition to changing the Shabbos status quo, supporters of the bill have delayed their push, putting the bill’s future in doubt. Hopefully, the day that the anti-Shabbos forces envision will never come.

(Click here for letter)

“I’ve been touched by all that transpired,” Reb Duvi reflects. “It shows that when we get together and use our k’oach harabim to speak up, we can literally change the trajectory of Eretz Yisroel – and the world.”

This content, and any other content on TLS, may not be republished or reproduced without prior permission from TLS. Copying or reproducing our content is both against the law and against Halacha. To inquire about using our content, including videos or photos, email us at [email protected].

Stay up to date with our news alerts by following us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

**Click here to join over 20,000 receiving our Whatsapp Status updates!**

**Click here to join the official TLS WhatsApp Community!**

Got a news tip? Email us at [email protected], Text 415-857-2667, or WhatsApp 609-661-8668.

5 COMMENTS

  1. What R Duvy does is amazing. He helps ppl find jobs. He facilitates tremendous B2B networking. He does the US -Israel alliance. Then he gets the Israeli politicians to keep Shabbos. I mean, really, it’s dizzying. You gotta scratch ur head.

  2. The American Frum Community got very big over the past few Years with lots of Resources and Connections in the Business and Political arena. It is nice to see a Frum Yid from Lakewood using these Resources to the Benefit of Acheinu Bnei Yisroell our Brothers and Sisters in Eretz Yisroel and to promote Torah Judiasm in the Land of Israel. May he be Blessed in all his Endevours

  3. But if a yerushalmi who isn’t a sophisticated businessman speaks up for kvoid shamayim…. than he’s a jobless shnurer who just stalls traffic…. wake up ! Medinas Yisrael wishes to destroy yiddishkeit the same way the eu wants it destroyed! Hashem yeracheim

Comments are closed.