The Knesset Environmental and Interior Committees discussed a project seeking to advance the city of Lod. Much discussion focused on a major project adjacent to the city which involves the Ministries of Housing, Interior, Economy and Lod City Hall.
Lod Mayor Yair Rabibo stated openly “I don’t want chareidim in my city”. He explained the city is already plagued with a weak population.
In response MK Rav Yaakov Asher stated “You should be ashamed that such a discussion takes place in the Israel Knesset. If such words were leveled against the Ethiopian population from Lod the entire nation would express shock, rightfully so. My dear mayor, you are missing the point. Lod is a complex city, a city that is now a national priority but with it all, but with all the negative rhetoric you still take a step backwards. You must take advantage of the agencies present in Knesset to implement change and that is what is important for Lod.”
Asher explained that as mayor of Bnei Brak, a city of 180,000 residents, mostly chareidi, the city nevertheless improved economically despite harsh socioeconomic realities. He explained it is not about the type of population or other factors. The secret he explained to the mayor is to take advantage of the power of the agencies willing to assist and to use this assistance wisely. Asher added the mayor’s words reflect unprofessionalism.
Asher advised Rabibo that instead of worrying about chareidim moving in he should work to attract government offices and/or industry, which will lead to increased prosperity.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
4 Responses
love it now the Chareidim will know how it feels. They have been doing the same thing for a long time now the shoe is on the other foot and they cry foul
“Asher explained that as mayor of Bnei Brak …improved economically despite harsh socioeconomic realities… The secret he explained to the mayor is to take advantage of the power of the agencies…”
In other words, live off the public dole. What was a safety net is now a city’s economic plan.
That reminds me of what Margaret Thatcher said about socialism, “The trouble with Socialism is that eventually you run out of other people’s money.”
Would the mayors (and residents) of Beitar or Kiryat Sefer, for example, welcome secular residents? Tlu kora mibein einechem. What goes around comes around.
Fine! So they won’t move there yet. What will these tzioni chaleria do when moshiach comes bimhayra and EVERYONE is shomray Torah umitzvos?