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Last update - 12:12 14/04/2008 Shas Rabbi Yosef to Sabbath council: Stay mum on AM:PM row By Nati Toker Tags: Shabbat observance  In the latest move in a debate among ultra-Orthodox sages, Shas party spiritual leader Ovadia Yosef has ordered the rabbinical council for Sabbath observance affairs to maintain media silence over an ongoing dispute with the AM:PM convenience stores, whose policy of keeping stores open on the Shabbat has sparked a campaign for a broad ultra-Orthodox consumer boycott. Local ultra-Orthodox boycotts have targeted AM:PM stores, and many influential rabbis, notably the Gur Rebbe and Rabbi Yosef Shlomo Elyashiv, are believed to be preparing to call for a much wider campaign involving one of Israel's major retail chains. Rabbi Yosef is among a number of rabbis who have refused to sign a blanket boycott campaign against firms owned or controlled by David Wiessman, who controls AM:PM's parent company, Dor Alon, as well as the extensive Blue Square group of retail supermarkets and other concerns. Advertisement None of Blue Square's stores are open for business on Saturday, and several of its Shefa Shuk stores are designed to appeal directly to the ultra-Orthodox sector. The Bnei Brak branch of Shefa Shuk has already been targeted for consumer boycott. A number of Ashkenazi ultra-Orthodox rabbis of the Lithuanian wing of the Haredi community, have also refused to sign the broad boycott call, which has yet to be published. In a meeting held at his home last Thursday, Rabbi Yosef enuciated his position, according to which the Sabbath must be observed, but that at this stage, there should be no prohibition barring shoppers from buying from the Blue Square group. Blue Square controlling shareholder Wiessman bought AM:PM a year and a half ago. In response to Haredi pressure, he agreed to remove non-kosher products from AM:PM shelves. Recently, AM:PM stores in some areas were ordered closed for the Sabbath, apparently in response to the boycott campaign. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Never forget Peres, at Warsaw uprising memorial: Israel will avenge Holocaust through peace. Return to Haifa Provocative new play evokes sympathy for both Jews and Palestinians   1.   They also stay mum on the recent Child abuse 12:15  |  SJ 14/04/08   2.   to no 1 13:14  |  fish 14/04/08   3.   Rabbis SHUT UP !!! 13:15  |  Albert 14/04/08   4.   OVADIA BEN LADEN 13:33  |  Natasha 14/04/08   5.   Chevra 14:11  |  Hirsh 14/04/08   6.   1,2,3,4,5 Obviously the Sages of Athistic Judism 15:51  |  S Judah 14/04/08   7.   Rabbis speak up!! 02:08  |  Yaakov 16/04/08

Read & React Editorial: Carter deserves royal treatment, not Israeli boycott Responses: 276 Peres: Israel will avenge Holocaust through peace Responses: 108 Top Iranian army officer: If Israel attacks, we'll 'eliminate' it Responses: 172 Rosner's blog: In gaffe, Obama carelessly belittled guns and God Responses: 59 Rosner's Domain Is it illegal for Carter to meet with Hamas? (WTR) Hillary Clinton and queen Esther Poll: Were you convinced that America should stay in Iraq? Is neoconservatism Jewish? (WTR) More Headlines 00:17 IDF soldier moderately wounded by Gazan sniper 22:42 Egyptian security forces hunting multiple terror cells in Sinai 02:19 McCain vows to pressure Iran, as Clinton calls for low-level talks 23:28 Arrow successfully simulates intercept of mock Shihab missile 22:56 U.S.: Iranian threats to 'eliminate' Israel justify int'l sanctions 21:18 Top Lebanese cleric calls Livni's Qatar visit an 'insult' to Muslims 21:32 Provocative new play evokes sympathy for Jews, Palestinians 00:55 Israel's water demand will hugely outweigh supply during 2008 02:40 SPNI: Gov't plans to ban swimming at 90 percent of country's beaches 21:27 Carter meets Hamas official, calls for group to be included in peace talks 00:38 Peres, at Warsaw uprising memorial: Israel will avenge Holocaust through peace 21:56 J'lem mayor implores local businesses to avoid selling chametz 22:46 African migrants arrested while attempting to cross into Israel Previous Editions Select Day 15 apr 14 apr 13 apr 11 apr 10 apr 09 apr 08 apr 07 apr 06 apr 04 apr 03 apr 02 apr

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