TLV satisfaction for religious Stones fans
City says Mick and Keith will go on stage later than originally scheduled, so that the Shavuot-observant can make it to the show
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleJessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center
Out of deference to Orthodox sensibilities (and in a possible effort to sell more tickets, judging by the constant banner ads online), the Tel Aviv municipality has allowed next Wednesday’s Rolling Stone concert to begin and end later than originally scheduled.
The June 4 concert had been set to begin at 8:30 pm — just five minutes after the end of the Shavuot holiday — precluding many Orthodox fans from attending.
“Following many requests from the public, particularly the observant public, to delay the starting hour for the performance, the City of Tel Aviv, together with the production team, decided to change the starting time,” stated a press release from producer Shuki Weiss.
The gates to the concert area at Yarkon Park will now open at 5:45 p.m., with opening act Rami Fortis performing at 7:45 p.m. and the Rolling Stones coming onstage “promptly” at 9:15 pm. This means the show will likely run later than usually permitted in the city.
That gives 50 minutes for Orthodox fans in the Tel Aviv area to reach the concert. (Those living in Jerusalem — where the holiday ends slightly earlier, at 8:22 p.m — will still be be hard-pressed to make it in time.)
Promoters are concerned about the buildup of traffic that usually takes place on the evening of a concert, and are therefore telling non-Orthodox concertgoers to pick up their tickets early; the box office opens at 2 p.m. They’re also recommending that concertgoers, where possible, use public transportation, bicycles or scooters to reach the park.
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