Nearly Half of Israelis Support Nationwide Ban on Business Openings on Tisha B'Av Eve

A recent survey conducted for the "Tzohar Index for Judaism and Tradition" and published on the "Mishav" channel reveals that 49.6% of Israelis support a legal nationwide ban on opening businesses, including entertainment venues and restaurants, on the eve of Tisha B'Av. Currently, Israeli law prohibits such openings on the eves of Holocaust Remembrance Day and Memorial Day across the country, but restrictions on Tisha B'Av eve are decided individually by local authorities.

The survey found that while nearly half favor extending the national ban to Tisha B'Av eve, 35.6% believe local authorities should retain the power to decide on restrictions for all three days, and 14.8% support completely abolishing these laws. Rabbi Asher Sabag, a member of the Tzohar Rabbis organization, commented on the findings, describing Tisha B'Av as a significant national day rather than a purely religious one. He noted that the day reflects Israel's historical experience of returning from exile and the desire to build a sustainable state without repeating past mistakes. Sabag emphasized that any change should come naturally from the public rather than through coercion.