Members of the Knesset Finance Committee were shocked as members of the Yahadut HaTorah voted against allocating 1.5 million for a mikve in Jerusalem’s Har Nof neighborhood. If one seeks to learn why they opposed, one will receive different responses.
Pushing for the allocation was Yitzchak Hanau, who is responsible for religious buildings in the capital, one who is aware of the status of the Har Nof city mikve. He was quite angered that the opposition came from the frum MKs, who are well aware of the ramifications of their actions.
The official response given by Yahadut HaTorah MKs is that they were told the mikve was to be built as a Chabad mikve, but those in the know say the real reason is the dispute behind the scene, the other projects that the MKs would like to see receive the same funding.
The funding in question are allocations intended for shuls that were not used, and are now being allocated under the law permitting use of “hechzerim” clause, surplus funds.
According to Yahadut HaTorah’s Yaakov Halperin, “Hanau decided to allocate the funds intended for shuls to a mikve, without consulting with a rav. The shuls did not use the funds due to bureaucratic snarls, not because the shuls do not want or require it. Because of political pressure, the money is being shifted elsewhere.
“In addition, it is unconscionable that a person who shut classrooms in the city tries to take earmarked funds for another purpose. Yahadut HaTorah takes care of all religious needs in the city. The attempted process shows a lack of decency, humanity and an absolute injustice”.
Shas Deputy Mayor Eli Simchayoff sent an urgent letter to Yahadut HaTorah Deputy Mayor Yitzchak Pindrus stating that since he has been in City Hall, for 15 years, such an occurrence never took place. He was referring to the fact that a chareidi lawmaker voted against a mikve.
Speaking with Chadrei Chareidim, Simchayoff stated that regarding allegations that Hanau did not consult with Yahadut HaTorah, that city portfolio is in the hands of Shas, not the latter, and Hanau did consult with Shas officials as he should have. He also warned against joining forces with the parties who are adamant in their opposition to Yiddishkheit.
Mr. Yitzchak Hanau did not wish to respond to the Chadrei Chareidim report.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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10 Responses
He said that I said that she said! Reporting such stories to an American readership that for the most part knows nothing about Israeli politics and the way it works nor anything about the specifics of the situation, is
“He (Shas Deputy Mayor Simchayoff) also warned against joining forces with the parties who are adamant in their opposition to Yiddishkheit.”
Funny it was Shas that joined Rabin’s coalition with Meretz while Yahadus Hatorah was opposed to joining forces with it “due to their stong opposition to yideshkeit”.
“The attempted process shows a lack of decency, humanity and an absolute injustice”.
Sounds a little extreme and over the top. Did he mean to say a lack of transparency and due process?
#1: “is…” Lashon Harah and Rechilus is what I assume you meant to conclude.
1. What’s their objection if the mikveh is built according to the Chabad design, which is the most mehudar design in existence, and is kosher according to more opinions than any other design?
2. It’s an open halacha that a mikveh is more important than a shul, and one must sell a shul to build a mikveh, so what’s their objection to taking money that shuls didn’t use and redirecting it to a needed mikveh?
#3:
This is a public discussion of public figures and not Loshon Horah.
Shame on the Agudist MKs opposing a Mikvah when necessary because of petty politics. Buliding a Mikvah is much more important than building or renovating a Shul.
This is what happens when you the government running religion. There is no such concept in halacha of a “state mikva”. It is always unwise to letting the government, no matter who is in charge, substitute for our traditional leadership and our own traditional decision making processes.
Follow the money trail and all makes sense (cents).
to #2
Learn how to compare apples and apples.
There’s a big difference in joining a government with meretz (and consistently disagreeing and pressuring the PM not to listen to them) and joining meretz to DIRECTLY oppose a mikveh said to be kosher by rabbonim other than yours…
Did daddy ever teach you how to compare?
Milhouse – silly arguments; must be coming from a chabadnik.
#9, silly? It’s torah. The bor-al-gabei-bor design is objectively the most mehudar, as anyone familiar with hilchos mikvaos can easily see. This is further verified by the fact that mikvaos from the time of Bayis Sheni turn out to have this design (something that was not known when the halachic process of working out the ideal mikveh design was gone though, in the 19th and early 20th centuries). You’re the silly one, who must be a Chabad-hater who makes up non-existent shitos for the sole purpose of putting down Chabad. (At this point you will probably be inclined to repeat the lie that the Divrei Chayim passels this design; don’t bother, I’ve learned the DC and I’ll bet you haven’t, and he says nothing of the kind. Also be aware of what the Michtav Sofer wrote to the DC about a different design that the DC didn’t like…)