Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., April 23, 2008 Nisan 18, 5768 | | Israel Time: 22:53 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

An ultra-Orthodox man in Jerusalem. (Tess Scheflan) Last update - 21:47 22/04/2008 Thousands of Haredim protest against chametz sale ruling in Jerusalem By Reuters Tags: Jerusalem, Haredi, Chametz  Thousands of ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) Jews in black coats and fur hats protested in Jerusalem on Tuesday against a recent court decision that allows stores to sell chametz, food banned by Jewish law during Passover. About 3,500 Haredi men gathered in Jerusalem's main ultra-Orthodox neighborhood to pray and listen to rabbis warn that selling chametz during Passover in contravention of Jewish law risked bringing destruction upon the city they regard as holy. "Chametz during Passover will bring devastation on Jerusalem," Rabbi Amram Hoffman told the crowd. "If you don't cry over this Chametz then Jerusalem won't stay in our hands." Advertisement To commemorate the biblical Israelites' hasty exodus from slavery in Egypt, Jewish law forbids eating leavened products during Passover, which began on Saturday. Parliament passed a law in 1986 banning the display of the unleavened food, and supermarkets hide bread and other non-kosher products behind plastic covers while many restaurants close for the week. But in a decision some religious Jews saw as an attack on their way of life, a Jerusalem court ruled two weeks ago that grocery stores and restaurants can display chametz because they are not "public areas" covered by the 1986 "matzot law" ban. Posters plastered around Jerusalem's Mea She'arim neighbourhood called the ruling wicked and urged the faithful to "raise their voices against evil leaders". Police had feared the protest might turn violent after trouble flared at previous Orthodox rallies over issues such as Jerusalem's annual gay pride event, but no incidents were reported. The Jerusalem court's ruling sparked a political uproar, and religious parties have vowed to legislate an amendment to the matzot law. Related articles: Shas minister: We must get rid of court like chametz Yeshiva student undresses in store to protest chametz sale All in favor / Itzik clears out the chametz Bookmark to del.icio.us   Sex, lies and videotape 3 Kibbutz Ein Gedi residents suspected of filming themselves raping Danish tourists. Big brother is watching An IDF soldier has been jailed for posting sensitive photos on Facebook.   1.   Right to sell = right to buy? 00:26  |  Catholic Israeli 23/04/08   2.   Hmmm... maybe humans can live in peace after all? 01:28  |  Gay Jew 23/04/08   3.   A Jew selling Hametz is like an American burning a US flag 01:58  |  Gay Jew 23/04/08   4.   Who`s buying? 02:17  |  KT 23/04/08   5.   A question for Catholic Israeli 04:04  |  Yered Shmuel 23/04/08   6.   @Yered 06:35  |  Catholic Israeli 23/04/08   7.   To Catholic Israeli and Jews 22:09  |  David 23/04/08

Read & React Ezra: New spy case won't harm U.S.-Israel ties Responses: 483 Top MK seeks immediate referendum bill on Golan pullout Responses: 243 Yuval Steinitz: Absurd U.S. intel report saps effort to save world from Iranian nukes Responses: 64 ANALYSIS: New espionage affair may be old story, but will greatly damage Israel Responses: 94 Rosner's Domain Clinton won the Pennsylvania Jewish vote (WTR) New poll: Will the new spy case harm U.S.-Israel ties? Why was the new spy arrested now? (WTR) Notes on the new Israeli-espionage affair More Headlines 22:09 Syrian FM: Nothing stopping resumption of peace talks with Israel 21:40 Hamas leader says cease-fire with Israel must include West Bank 22:37 Video footage leads to indictment of 3 kibbutzniks for rape 19:12 IDF soldier jailed for posting sensitive photos on Facebook 20:15 Carter: Rice statement untrue, I wasn't warned not to meet Hamas 18:40 U.S. facing nation-wide matza shortage this Passover 20:19 Ezra: New spy case won't harm U.S.-Israel ties 20:59 Abdullah to Bush: Israel-PA talks must be based on fixed timetable 15:10 Ahmadinejad: We'll 'slap mouths' of those demanding nuclear program halted 17:05 Belarus vandals daub swastikas on Shoah monument on Hitler's birthday 17:05 2 men allegedly held elderly against will, stole thousands Previous Editions Select Day 22 apr 21 apr 20 apr 18 apr 17 apr 16 apr 15 apr 14 apr 13 apr 11 apr 10 apr 09 apr

Special Offers Advertisement Learn Hebrew online with Israel's best teachers Sign up for a trial lesson today Pardes Institute Summer Sessions Study Jewish texts and issues in Jerusalem, Co-ed, All Levels Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved