According to Rav Ze’ev Zar, the director of Bnei Aliyah, an organization assisting talmidim in Yerushalayim apartments leased by yeshivas as dormitories, is concerned over the new law scheduled to go into effect in the coming weeks. As a result, talmidim will be completed to pay NIS 27 per cube of water used, a sizable tax for talmidim, most of who are living on a very limited budget. The rav explains that while this is not the result of a discriminatory policy against the yeshiva students, it will however place a significant hardship on talmidim. Water officials estimate monthly water consumption per person as 3.8 cubes.

The tax levied on the nation due to the last years being drought years does take into consideration the number of people living in a residence. Families larger than four persons may update local authorities and they will be permitted a large allotment of water before beginning to pay the additional taxes.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)