The site of the tziyun of the Baba Sali in the southern city of Netivot is going to receive an overall costing NIS 15 million. According to official numbers, 600,000 mispallalim visit the site annually to daven at the kever of Rav Yisrael Abuchatzera ZT”L.

Despite the hundreds of thousands who visit annually, the site is neglected, a parking lot laden with tin patches and sheds flooded with barbecue smoke.

The Baba Sali was niftar 33 years ago, and the years have taken their toll on the area, most used as a parking lot.

Bar mitzvah boys in suits can be seen moving between the cars parked and families dine under the tin roofs near the crammed souvenir shop, all near the main building, the tziyun itself.

Aware of the neglect, Aryeh Deri has decided to establish a visitor’s center heritage house which will exhibit the proud past of Moroccan Jewry and the late tzaddik. The Ministry of Negev & Galil Development, which Deri runs, will be infusing funding along with the Ministry of Religious Services, which is also under Shas control. These ministries will contribute a combined NIS 8 million. An additional 7 million will be raised privately to complete the planned restoration expansion project.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)