While in the not-so-distant past Tel Aviv was a flourishing frum city with many shuls that were filled to capacity on Shabbos, today’s reality is a different one. Many shuls have closed as the city has become a bastion of modern non-frum lifestyle in many areas.

One of the shuls that has survived in בית כנסת הוסיאטין, located on Bialik Street about 70 years ago, and has been operating every day since. It now appears that real estate developers have set their sights on the property, and are believed to be taking action to force the closure of the shul. Veteran mispallalim feel that persons motivated by profit are trying to take over the shul in the hope of shutting down and developing the plot commercially. They point out that the building has been declared a landmark and therefore, it cannot be torn down but the developers appear undeterred by this fact.

The plight of the shul became known to Roziner chassidim, who have acted, enlisting chassidim to come and strengthen the shul and minyan to drive away those wishing to close its doors. The rebbe has enlisted the assistance of attorney Avraham Zilbershlag; to act on behalf of the shul’s vaad to keep it operating as the rebbe became aware the real estate developers began trying to take control by chipping away at the questionable legal reality of the mispallalim.

The owners are being promised the shul will never be closed, insisting the owners will retain their rights and if the building is developed, the shul will remain at the bottom and they will never be ousted.

Zilbershlag explains the shul is protected under the law as well as by a previous court ruling. In the interim, assisted by chassidim from Rozin and attorney Zilbershlag, the shul’s board remains committed to enlisting additional support towards preserving the shul, which is still an active place for daily mispallalim.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)