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Steimatzky bookstore, Israel's largest chain, will be holding a major event in Tel Aviv on Saturday July 21 at 2:01 a.m. for the launch of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
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| By Israel Insider staff July 18, 2007 |
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The upcoming release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh and final installment of the wildly popular series, has drawn indignation from ultra-Orthodox lawmakers such as Deputy prime minister and Industry, Trade, and Labor Minister Eli Yishai of Shas.
The book is set to be released simultaneously throughout the world on Saturday July 21. In Israel, the event falls at 2:01 a.m. on Shabbat, when it is illegal for most businesses to be open and functioning.
Yishai, who suggested that the book be sold either earlier on Friday or after the Sabbath is over, threatened to indict and fine any retailers who go through with plans to release the book as scheduled.
"We must put a limit on the desire to imitate other countries. It is inconceivable that numerous employees will be brought in to allow these events to take place and damage the spirit of Shabbat. I plan to file charges and fine anyone who violates the Hours of Work and Rest Law," Yishai said.
The two major book chains in Israel are both planning events to mark the launch. Steimatzky is planning a major event in Tel Aviv's port on Friday night. Tsomet Sfarim is also planning an event at one of its branches, and books will be sold at all branches starting Saturday morning.
According to Steimatzky spokeswoman Alona Zamir, the chain is bound by contract to release the book at the internationally specified time, and has no intention of changing its plans.
"We're required by our agreement with the book's publisher to launch the book at the same time as everywhere else in the world," Zamir said.
MK Avraham Ravitz slammed not only the book's Shabbat release, but also its content.
"Aside from the book and its poor content, which serves as education for teenagers in Israel and the world in this new age, the book chains add insult to injury with their intent to hold this celebration while massively desecrating the Shabbat, and by violating the law that prohibits employing workers on Shabbat," he said.
"We don't have to get carried away like monkeys and imitate the world in this kind of subculture, especially not while desecrating the holy Shabbat," said Ravitz.
Author J.K. Rowling released the first of her fantastical books in 1997. Since then the books have sold more than 325 million copies worldwide and have been translated into at lease 64 languages. The Hebrew version of i>Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is set to be released by the end of the year. |
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