Jerusalem Councilman Yitzchak Pindrus has sent a letter to senior city officials pertaining to a planned festival in Gan Sacher Park during Pesach. In his harshly-worded letter, Pindrus explains that such an event during Pesach will result in significant hardship due to the lack of tznius associated with it as well as the fact most of the park will be closed off, permitting entry only to those paying admission.

His letter to senior city official Mr. Ze’ev Goldberg follows a failed effort to persuade Culture & Arts officials the idea is a bad one. He writes “I have learned of the planned festival during Pesach in Sacher Park. As I understood it, the event will take over most of the park and entry will demand paid admission. According to the plan for the event, only very small areas at the edge of the park will remain available to the general public.

“I think the timing selected for the festival is not suitable. Chol Hamoed Pesach, a time during which many families head to the parks, and the closure of one of the largest area parks in central Jerusalem will result in difficulties for the general public. I call on you to examine things in terms of the benefit to the public and to avoid issuing a festival permit for Chol Hamoed Pesach”.

Head of the city’s Culture & Arts Division Mr. Yoram Braverman confirms the festival is planned during Chol Hamoed Pesach in Sachar Park. He has already informed Pindrus that he does not see eye-to-eye with him, pleased with the planned event that is scheduled to go on despite his objections.

Braverman explained, “This is a festival that displays the latest premier inventions and technological innovations from various countries alongside Israel’s technological advancement with an emphasis on Jerusalem firms. It is a festival for all ages and sectors in its uniqueness. We expect tens of thousands of city residents to attend.

“The timing coincides with a time many families are looking to participate in special events and this meets that criteria. Nevertheless, for those families just wishing to spend time in the park, four duman are available in the southern park and five dunam in the northern area of the park and the entire playground area which is outside the confines of the festival. (A duman is equivalent to a quarter of an acre).

“In addition, many other parks remain at the disposal of the public as NIS millions were invested to have them available for just this type of scenario. This includes Independence Park, Deer Park, Bloomfield Park, Vradim Park (Rose Garden), the Jerusalem Forest, and many others.

“To benefit the public we offer these options without having to cancel this, one of the truly unique events in the city as I mentioned, which is open to the general public”.

Nevertheless, Pindrus points out the festival is not suitable for a large population of city residents during Pesach, but to date, despite all efforts to explain this to the decision makers, no one seems to be in agreement. Hence Pindrus has moved up the ladder to senior city officials in the hope of having the festival canceled.

In his comments to Kikar Shabbos News, Pindrus adds “This is a bizarre idea that fits neither the time, nor the city, nor the place; to take the most crowded park in the city during Pesach when Jewish from around the world come to Jerusalem, close it for a paid festival, not to mention the issue of food on Pesach, clearly shows someone doesn’t have a clue where he is living”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)