Famous singer Yehoram Gaon was at the mall entrance when the incident occurred, and he confirmed the events during his erev Shabbos radio program ‘Gaon on the Radio,’ telling listeners “the treatment of the man was worse than the treatment of Jews in Berlin in 1939.”
He went on to explain what he saw: “I was astounded when I saw the chossid arguing at the entrance because he was being barred from going inside. He was simply blocked from coming in like the rest of us because of his beard, peyos and black clothing.
“I asked the guard ‘Why isn’t he permitted inside? He explained ‘I am just obeying orders.’ Did you hear this? This was the directive from the management of the mall, Ramat Aviv Mall. The guard was instructed to prohibit chareidim from entering because those seated in eateries will feel uncomfortable and lose their appetite. We must applaud the management for being so concerned with the appetite of customers.”
Many heard the story since it was aired by Gaon, but at least one person, chareidi businessman Chaim Ravaad, decided to do something. Ravaad, along with a number of “known personalities in the chareidi community,” announced on Motzei Shabbos that if the mall’s management does not fire the guard, along with others responsible for the policy, they will use all means at their disposal to take legal action against the mall.
“We will act in every legal way possible against the racist policy of the mall. We are demanding the dismissal of the manager and/or all those responsible for the decision,” he announced.
In addition, they are planning to organize buses of chareidim to visit the mall, to protest against the discriminatory policy.
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