Gur Hasidic Community Restricts Children's Access to Arad Mall

The educational institutions of the Gur Hasidic community in Arad have issued new guidelines restricting children's entry into the city's mall, now known as "RD Mall." Following consultations with rabbis and educators, an "in-principle" approval was granted for children to enter the complex, but with strict limitations. Children are permitted to enter solely for the purpose of shopping and not for leisure or wandering. Furthermore, entry is only allowed when accompanied by a parent, with siblings alone not permitted.

Additional restrictions dictate that children may only visit stores owned by members of their community, referred to as "An"sh" (people of our group). The guidelines explicitly state that children should not enter stores belonging to external chains, naming "Idan 2000," "Selection," and "Super-Pharm" as examples.

The community leaders urged parents to maintain close supervision of their children during mall visits, citing the presence of individuals not belonging to their community. This directive comes after the mall was purchased for approximately 40 million shekels by Menachem Kayan and Simcha Greenbaum, businessmen associated with the Gur Hasidic movement.

Since the acquisition, the mall, which spans about 20 dunams and previously generated around 3.1 million shekels annually, has undergone modifications to suit the needs of the ultra-Orthodox community. These changes have sparked public debate in Arad regarding the mall's future character and its impact on local commerce.

The new guidelines also drew criticism on social media, with some Arad residents denouncing the distinction between stores based on community affiliation. Critics argue this constitutes a call to boycott non-community-owned businesses and raises concerns about the mall's influence on the city.