Orthodox and secular Jews fight over shaping Jerusalem's character

c. 2015 USA Today

JERUSALEM — Yossi Cohen was shocked when city inspectors warned him last month to close his downtown convenience store during the Jewish sabbath or else be socked with fines.

“For 20 years I’ve been open during shabbat and suddenly the city decides I have to close?” said Cohen, one of eight convenience store owners ordered to shut down from sundown Friday until Saturday night. “The message is clear: the municipality doesn’t want non-religious people in this city.”