Is there a halachic obligation to do buisiness with an observant jew over a secular jew when all the variables are the same, like price, quality and service or is there not?
Answer:
One should prefer a Jewish business over a non-Jewish business (based on Sifra, Behar 3, and Rema, responsum 9).
Some rule that the same applies to an observant Jew over a non-observant Jew (this ruling is given by Rav Moshe Sternbuch). However, this ruling is not crystal clear, and I have not seen others discuss it.
In addition, the ruling will only apply to somebody who violates Shabbos in public, or performs other transgressions that give him the status of a non-Jew with regard to a number of halachos.
In addition, it will apparently not apply accoring to those poskim who classify most secular Jews as “tinokos she-nishbe’u” (such as the Chazon Ish).
Yet, one should certainly support establishments that are closed on Shabbos, and sacrifice business for keeping Shabbos.
Sources:
For sources of the original halacha concerning non-Jews, please see here. For Rav Sternbuch, see Teshuvos Ve-Hanhagos Vol. 3, no. 454.
