RSS Feed
Tel Aviv, Israel - Woman Fired for Refusing to Work on Shabbat |
|
| |
Text Size
|
Tel Aviv, Israel - Shimrit Tzuberi, 25, was fired from her job at the Holmes Place gym franchise after refusing to work on Shabbat.
Shimrit's father died a few months after she began working at the Holmes Place branch in Tel Aviv's Azrieli Towers. In light of his death, Shimrit decided that she would like to begin abiding by tradition and stop working on Shabbat.
The branch she worked at permitted her to refrain from working on Saturdays during the customary year of mourning. However, a short time after the year’s termination, the branch’s management called her in for a meeting and gave her a letter clarifying that she is obligated to work the Saturday shift and that if she doesn’t do so, she won’t be able to continue working there.
During the following three weeks, Tzuberi was asked to work on Shabbat a couple of times, and after refusing, she received a letter of dismissal.
The Holmes Place franchise claimed that “Tzuberi was not fired for not working on Shabbat and holidays but because of our dissatisfaction with her work, and this was clearly explained to her in the conversation we had about her dismissal.
“Throughout her employment in the club, the management received complaints regarding her service and her attitude. The management conducted a few meetings in which Shimrit was warned, and it was clarified to her that her behavior is unacceptable and warning letters were also sent to her on this issue.”
Tzuberi's lawyer, Attorney Yonit Shlain-Ben Or from the Israel Religious Action Center, claimed that Holmes Place’s version was inconsistent with the facts.
"If the problems continued afterwards, why did Tzuberi remain in her position for another year and a half in which she also instructed new girls on the position?” Ben Or said “The struggle for the freedom of religion in Israel has to include defending a person’s right to refrain from working on the day of rest and to note the Sabbath in accordance with their world view and faith.”
More of today's headlines
“Chicago, IL - Barack Obama selected Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware late Friday night to be his vice presidential running mate, balancing his ticket with an older...”
Chicago, IL - Obama Picks Biden, Biden: I'm A Zionist, But No Pardon To Pollard
Palm Beach, FL - Jewish Services in Home Irk Neighbors
Total16
Read Comments (16) — Post Yours »
1
Aug 23, 2008 at 09:55 PM Avrohom Abba Says:
Hey Shmirit, you are a brave person and I definitely support you!
Thank you for suporting us all! We in turn will support you.
2
Aug 23, 2008 at 09:58 PM ananymous Says:
This is one of those weird things... it's easier to tell a non-Jew in the States about your Shabbat observance vs. a non-religious Jew in Israel. Go figure.
3
Aug 23, 2008 at 10:05 PM boruch hoffinger Says:
B"H
Most Jews today are 'tenoke shenishba.' All frum Jews should go out and mekarev Jews. Work very hard at it. It's a kiddush HaShem!
She's a brave woman. HaShem will repay her very well.
4
Aug 23, 2008 at 11:57 PM bigwheeel Says:
Shimrit's (a/o Shmirit) employers did not fire her because she didn't work on the Sabbath, only because they were "Dissatisfied" with her work! Why were they dissatisfied with her work?! Because she didn't want to work on the Sabbath!!!
5
Aug 24, 2008 at 12:05 AM Anonymous Says:
Some frum person should give her a good job at a better salary & she can tell them to take a hike. She should be rewarded for sticking to her guns. She sounds like the kind of employee anyone would want.
6
Aug 24, 2008 at 01:39 AM Mark Levin Says:
Anon 1205a,
I second that. If anyone reading this in EY has a position available for this person, please do all you can to contact them.
7
Aug 24, 2008 at 02:19 AM Anonymous Says:
To anon 9:58,
Stop being motzay laz on non-religious jews, the discrimination in this country is much worse than you could possibly believe; I know from personal expierience!
8
Aug 24, 2008 at 04:08 AM Anonymous Says:
everyone knows in israel about shabbat and theres a law which is constantly enforced to protect workers not wanting to work on shabbat-major lawsuits have been taken and enforced-so theres no tinok shenisba on this
9
Aug 24, 2008 at 04:53 AM Unannumen Says:
what a chillul hashem. why can't she just make shalom with them and stop putting all the religious fanatics in a bad light. if she doesn't want to be mechallel shabbos that is her buisiness but who gives her a right to force it on her employer. enough to this kefiya datit
10
Aug 24, 2008 at 04:54 AM Unannumen Says:
just does to show that the chillul hashem and ahavas yisroel tayna doesn't have to be connected to halacha.
LOL
11
Aug 24, 2008 at 06:34 AM Anonymous Says:
I doubt anyone in Israel is ever fired for lack of respect and poor customer service. If that was true there would be no one left to work in Israel.
12
Aug 24, 2008 at 07:03 AM Anonymous Says:
Isn't it a shame that of all places it's in our Holy Land Eretz Hakodesh that we are having such a problem.
13
Aug 24, 2008 at 09:36 AM Anonymous Says:
You Go Girl!!!
Hashem should bless you in every way with every possible beracha!!
14
Aug 24, 2008 at 02:42 PM anon Says:
Funny I never ever had a non-jew question my Shabbat observance - have had "jewish" bosses give me difficulties.
For this to happen in Israel is really weird because they could get someone else to work overtime and mix shifts if it isn't a "jewish hating" boss.
Too bad they don't close Shabbat - even an excercise addict needs a rest.
15
Aug 24, 2008 at 03:13 PM anonymous Says:
The letter that they fired you with put on your sucah walls!
Surely your kids and your grand-kids will see what their role models priority is.
16
Aug 24, 2008 at 05:53 PM oral law Says:
Chutzpah to the gym. Let us get the Btzedak group to work on this case ASAP.