Residents of the Karlin neighborhood are opposed to a three-story kollel that is planned for their area. They question the need, especially since there are so many shuls in the community. A community leader fears the kollel will result in a change in the religious status quo in the area.

The MyNet report states the building in question is intended for Beis Yaakov community, a tzibur that has been in the area for a decade. The report quoting a “religious source” in the community that it is a mixed religious and chareidi tzibur and non-frum and traditional Jews join their minyanim.

One resident, Roy, explains “We have no objection whatsoever to building a shul the same size as the original, 250 meters, and we will even assist in fundraising or the building. However, we are not ready to accept an 1100 square meter building with offices and a shul holding 200 men and a basement with a simcha hall. There are 8 shuls within a kilometer of the site and just 50 meters from the intended site of the kollel there is a shul that stands empty most days of the week. In addition, on Sigalit Street which is 900 aerial meters away there is the Knesset Yitzchak Yeshiva, hence it is illogical to bring an entire torani community to this sensitive neighborhood”.

When he says “sensitive” he explains he refers to the Arabs living in the area. He stresses that to date they live side by side without issues to date, and he fears this community and the large building will change all of this. “To my sorrow we have seen precedents in Hadera, in which the entire character of a neighborhood changes because of kollelim. I am not opposed to anyone, but we wish to continue living our lives as we have until now”.

Roy wishes to stress that this is not against religion in any way, but more an effort to preserve the current character of the community. “I am living here for 11 years and of late the feeling is that ‘Karlin’ is slowly becoming the backyard of the city. There was already an effort to build a kollel 15 years ago and two skyscrapers were built without providing a solution for surrounding infrastructure and a kollel building like this would just add to the infrastructure problems…”

Residents insist their opposition will remain civil but one cannot deny things are heating up. MyNet reports police have confirmed that a complaint was filed by a resident against the community’s rav after receiving phone threats. They rav and his aides declined comment.

Boaz Biton, the local Shas leader explains the entire land allocation process was done in accordance to law and it is unclear why residents of Karlin are complaining now. City Hall officials state the enlarged building process was approved by the previous administration and advanced by Councilman Chaim Avitan. “The city has already conducted itself honorably. The permit to build the kollel expires on July 1st and a request for an extension has not yet been received” the statement reads.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)