On Saturdays, most Israeli businesses are closed, some of them in observance of the Jewish Sabbath, which runs from Friday night to Saturday night. But now a young wizard, to whose adventures many Israeli children are addicted, threatens the sanctity of the Sabbath. Sabbath candles or no Sabbath candles, some Israeli bookstores are going to defy the public law and supply Potter crackheads with their last dose of teen wizardry. (From the Miami Herald)
With Israelis already clamoring for "Deathly Hallows," many bookstores are planning to launch the book at the appointed hour. That has drawn fire from Orthodox Jewish lawmakers, including Industry and Trade Minister Eli Yishai, who threatened to fine any store that opens Saturday."Israeli law forbids businesses to force their employees to work on the Sabbath, and that applies in this case as well. The minister will fine and prosecute any businesses which violate the law," said Roei Lachmanovich, a spokesman for Yishai, of the ultra-0rthodox Jewish Shas party. [...]
Steimatzky, Israel's biggest bookstore chain, is holding a gala event in Tel Aviv beginning Friday night to launch the book, and the company has no plans to change the time, said spokeswoman Alona Zamir.
"We're required by our agreement with the book's publisher to launch the book at the same time as everywhere else in the world," Zamir said.
Wingardium leviosa!!
For Beliefnet's rendition of this story, see here.
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