The rift reaches the cholent: secular people stop coming to Bnei Brak

Organizers of culinary and cultural tours in Bnei Brak report a dramatic drop in demand from secular audiences, against the backdrop of tensions over the conscription law and the judicial reform. The number of visitors has dropped by about half to 40%, some tours have been shortened and diverted to more illuminated areas, and organizers report posters against the tours and cases of groups being attacked.

Organizers of culinary and cultural tours in Bnei Brak, aimed mainly at a secular audience, report a sharp decline in demand amid growing tensions between secular and Haredi Jews. Yosef Shpeizer, a tour guide for over a decade, admits that the number of visitors has dropped by about half. Moni Kahlon, a food tour organizer, describes a significant decline that began with the judicial reform and worsened after October 7, around the conscription issue. According to him, there have been cases where groups were attacked, and posters are being distributed against the tours. As a result, tours have been shortened and diverted to more central and illuminated areas. Meizlish, another organizer, estimates a drop of about 40% in the number of visitors and notes that the slogan "We will die and not enlist" deters potential visitors. However, he adds that the craving for traditional Jewish food still lingers. Hilik Rosenberg notes that in the open groups it was emptier than last year, but to his surprise, curiosity from foreign TV crews has begun to increase. The organizers emphasize that most Bnei Brak residents support the tours and interaction, but the political-social tension is taking its toll.