The [Street] Naming Committee in Afula City Hall recently received a request to rename the street in memory of Major-General Assaf Simchoni z”l to be in memory of Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef ZT”L. The family of the late IDF officer was furious over the request. During the process of handling this request it was also learned that even if approved on the local level, the decision demands the approval of a ministerial committee too since the local level names committee does not have the authority to change the name of a street that was already named. As a result, the person who submitted the request withdraw the request.

It appears the reason for the request is that over recent years there has been a distinguishable change in the character of the community, which has become predominately chareidi.

The request was resting on a desk in City Hall for the past 18 months but was only recently addressed.

Yoav, a son of Simchoni told ‘Yediot HaEmek’ that the request is unacceptable, explaining “My father defended the entire valley including Afula and the surrounding area during the War of Independence. This is unprecedented chutzpah. I think everyone has gone crazy and landed on their heads. It is not sufficient for us that the matter has been frozen but we are requesting from City Hall to formally file with the Interior Ministry to have the request removed and that the street remain in the memory of our father”.

The rav of the neighborhood in question, Rav Shlomo Weizman, who also heads the Afula Religious Council marriage unit was the force behind the effort to have the street renamed. He feels that his request was not offensive since the neighborhood today in no way reflects the days of yesteryear. The rav stresses that he in no way meant to offend Simchoni’s memory of chas v’sholom offend the family members. He simply wanted to give honor to the memory of the Torah giant. Rav Weizman does plan to refile the request but for another street in the community.

Afula City Hall states “A preliminary check into the matter revealed the preconditions for such a change do not exist. Mayor Yitzchak Meron announced that he intends to invite the family members of General Simchoni to meet with him to clarify they plan to do what is necessary to correct the matter, which was done in good faith while maintaining the dignity of Major-General Simchoni, a founder of the IDF”.

Tzuri Cohen (Shas), who heads the Afula Names Committee added “The committee met to discuss the request from a resident of the street in question. To begin with, in order to change the street and maintain the dignity of the general, we found and alternative street…There was not any deliberate attempt to compromise the dignity of the late general or his family and we apologize for any grief that was caused”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)