MK Elazar Stern boycotts Big Fashion Glilot over Shabbat operations: "I will not step foot there"

Knesset Member Elazar Stern (Yesh Atid) announced a boycott of the newly opened Big Fashion Glilot shopping complex today (Sunday), vowing not to visit the site as long as it remains operational on Shabbat. The decision, which Stern framed as a defense of workers’ rights and Israel’s cultural identity, comes days after the sprawling retail hub launched in Glilot, reigniting debates over commerce on the Jewish day of rest.

Stern, a former IDF major general, minced no words in his critique. “As long as commerce there operates on Shabbat, my foot will not step there,” he stated in a public post. “The opening of Big Fashion Glilot this week forces thousands of workers—sales staff, security personnel, and cleaners—to sacrifice their only day of rest for corporate profit.” He argued that Shabbat holds a “special character” in Israel, describing it as a societal cornerstone and a historic Jewish contribution to global culture.

The lawmaker distinguished between small convenience stores, which he has supported for Shabbat operations in Tel Aviv, and large-scale malls like Big Fashion. “A neighborhood shop meets a local need; a massive shopping center exploits workers for revenue,” he said.

Stern cited the late Professor Ruth Gavison, co-author of the Gavison-Medan Covenant, who opposed retail on Shabbat, advocating instead for a “day of culture” over commerce. “Shabbat is a social safeguard, not just a religious custom,” he added, echoing her stance.

Stern’s boycott call arrives amid broader tensions over Shabbat observance in Israel, a democratic state with a Jewish majority. He referenced Gavison’s writings, which argue that a culturally Jewish public space justifies preserving Shabbat, even in a multicultural society. While he supports cafes, restaurants, and cultural venues operating on Saturdays, Stern warned that retail openings create “unavoidable economic pressure” to expand Shabbat work, potentially affecting tens of thousands of employees.

The Knesset member urged Big Fashion Glilot’s operators to reconsider their policy. “Until they do, I won’t enter—and I suspect many others will join me,” he said. The statement taps into a lingering national debate, balancing liberal values with Jewish tradition, as Israel navigates its identity in 2025.