As elections for the Ramot neighborhood of Jerusalem’s new community council (minhelet), rabbonim in the community have decided to call for eliminating the two councils, one for chareidim and the other for the non-religious community residents. The rabbonim want to see one minhelet running the area as is the case in all other areas of the city.

A bit of background:

As Ramot became chareidi over the years, the non-religious who were in control of the council fought to maintain their hold on the community. The growing religious community protested, demanding their fair share of the budgeting but clearly, the chareidim and non-chareidim had different plans for the community’s budget. Mayor Nir Barkat intervened, backing the non-religious veteran residents, deciding to have two councils and splitting the budget, thereby permitting them to continue ruling over a portion of the area, albeit a minority area of the neighborhood. The rabbonim reluctantly agreed.

The overwhelming chareidi majority in the neighborhood is no longer willing to split the budget with a second council simply to appease the veterans, who do not wish to recognize the reality that today, they no longer represent the majority of Ramot residents. The rabbonim point out that this minority council still receives a large portion of the budget in addition to maintaining control of community council buildings. The neighborhood is overwhelming chareidi and they are unwilling to tolerate wasting a significant portion of the community budget to appease the veteran non-frum residents.

With elections ahead, the rabbonim have announced they are unwilling to cooperate any longer and are demanding the elimination of the non-religious council and have the budget placed in the hands of the single council, as is the accepted norm throughout the city.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)