In these hard times, what is opened? What is closed? A report from Israel Hayom on the activities/business around the country

 This below is an AI generated summary (and English translation) of the article מה פתוח ומה סגור? עושים סדר בהנחיות פיקוד העורף | היום

‎What's open and what's closed? Putting the Home Front Command's instructions in order‎

• Malls and retail: Malls are closed, except for essential stores such as electrical chains, pharmacy chains, standalone pharmacies, and supermarkets, which operate as usual.

• Deliveries: You can order deliveries from food chains; delivery times may be longer because of high demand. Wolt, TenBis, Mishloha and Haat do restaurant deliveries in a reduced format, depending on siren frequency.

• Restaurants and bakeries: Restaurants are doing delivery and takeaway only, and only if they are close to a protected space/safe room. Bakeries and delicatessens are defined as essential businesses; some cafés counted as bakeries are also open. In principle, cafés and restaurants are not open for sit‑down service, according to Home Front Command safety rules.

• Pharmacies and HMOs: Only protected pharmacies of the health funds operate. Their websites list protected branches. Example: in Clalit, protected pharmacies that meet protection rules operate normally, including self‑pickup of online pharmacy orders; home‑delivery medicines (free) continue subject to the security situation.

• Postal service: Israel Post notes possible changes in branch hours. Even in emergency, hundreds of branches with protected areas continue to operate; one must check which branches are open and their hours on the Israel Post website. Financial services are also available digitally; mail carriers and couriers continue, with possible delays, in accordance with Home Front Command instructions.

• National Insurance (Bituach Leumi): No in‑person medical committees. If possible, they will be held via video, phone or other means; those affected will be contacted personally. Postponed committees will get priority when possible. No in‑person public reception; instead, you can book a phone appointment for a clerk to call you. Service channels that continue: human chat, online contact, call centers (*6050), etc. Work on cases continues also in emergency. Staff are also going out to hospitals and hotels where evacuees are staying to help with rights and assistance, and are coordinating with security and health authorities regarding bereaved families and victims of the Iranian terror.

• Banks: For now, a normal business day took place; core branches of the banks remain open.

• Employment Service: No physical public reception in Employment Service offices nationwide. Job‑seekers are not required to report physically; their rights are fully preserved. Service continues via call center 9687* and online contact. Policy valid until Monday, March 2, 2026, 20:00.

• Production and industry (food sector): The food industry is defined as critical infrastructure and continues to operate continuously under emergency format. Plants are prepared with raw‑material stocks, distributed production, continuity plans and cooperation with the state. There is no expected shortage of food products and no need to stockpile.

• Dairy sector: Despite high demand and some shelf shortages, the dairy sector operates fully “under fire” and continues to produce the required quantities. Over 8 million liters of milk reached dairies this morning. Even when no imports enter Israel, the dairy sector continues routine activity with ongoing situation assessments.

• Tnuva: Demand for Tnuva products rose ~25%. The company met all demand and supplied all points of sale nationwide, despite about 10% worker shortages (reserves duty) and siren‑related interruptions that caused a few hours’ delay in distribution.

• Government emergency portal: A special “Governmental Emergency Portal” was re‑launched, concentrating official updates, status of essential economy, map of essential services, rights guidance, health and welfare information, and links to digital services. Through it you can also reach “Reorganizing Anew”, with information for people whose homes were damaged, including guidance and contacts.

• Maccabi Pharm: Most Maccabi Pharm pharmacies operate normally except unprotected branches (check list on their site). From tomorrow, temporary free home‑delivery of prescription medicines will be available to members; orders via site or app. Urgent cases should go directly to pharmacies; delays in supply times are possible. Info via *3555 ext. 3.

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In summary: Clearly open / operating (even if with limitations)

• Supermarkets (in and outside malls), operating as usual.

• Essential stores in malls: electrical chains, pharmacy chains, pharmacies.

• Food chains and restaurants:

  • Open for delivery and takeaway only (no sit‑down), and only where near a protected space.

  • Delivery platforms (Wolt, TenBis, Mishloha, Haat) active in reduced mode.

• Bakeries and delicatessens (defined as essential businesses); some cafés classified as bakeries are open (for takeaway/delivery, not seating).

• Protected pharmacies of the health funds (Clalit, Maccabi, etc.).

• Maccabi Pharm: most branches open as usual, except unprotected ones; also provides free home‑delivery of prescription medicines starting tomorrow.

• Home‑delivery of medicines from HMOs (e.g., Clalit, Maccabi), subject to security situation.

• Israel Post: hundreds of branches with protected areas remain open; financial and digital services available; postal and courier services continue with possible delays.

• Banks: “core” bank branches are open and held a normal business day.

• National Insurance (Bituach Leumi):

  • Offices working on files and handling cases.

  • Public service via phone appointments, human chat, online forms, and call centers.

• Employment Service: fully operating remotely via phone (9687*) and online; rights of job‑seekers preserved.

• Food manufacturing plants (food industry): operating continuously as critical infrastructure; no expected shortage of food products.

• Dairy farms and dairies: working at full capacity, supplying required milk quantities.

• Tnuva production and distribution: operating nationwide with only a few‑hours delay in some deliveries.

• Government emergency portal and “Reorganizing Anew” website: online and accessible for information and services.

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In summary: Closed, restricted, or status unknown / not fully specified

Explicitly closed or not allowed

• Malls (as a whole) – closed, except for essential stores listed above.

• Sit‑down service in restaurants and cafés – not allowed under Home Front Command rules.

• Physical in‑person medical committees at National Insurance – do not take place.

• In‑person public reception at National Insurance branches – not held.

• In‑person public reception at Employment Service offices – not held.

Status limited / case‑by‑case / unknown

• Non‑essential stores in city centers and neighborhood streets (clothing, shoes, toys, etc.): not mentioned explicitly; status unclear and likely depends on specific Home Front Command area guidelines.

• Non‑protected pharmacies and clinic branches: may be closed or have changed hours; each fund instructs to check its site.

• Non‑core bank branches: only “core branches” are explicitly stated as open; other branches’ status is unclear.

• Specific post office branches: hours and openings may change locally; one must check branch status on Israel Post’s website.

• Cafés not classified as bakeries: article says in principle they are not open for seating; whether some are open for takeaway only is not detailed for all chains, so precise status is partially unknown.

• Other government offices (beyond what is described via the emergency portal and National Insurance): not specified in detail; need to check via the emergency portal.