Two shuls in Rishon L’Tzion are being shut down in the near future as per a decision by that city’s administration. Mispallalim feel city officials are intentionally trying to get at them by closing the shuls and there is no justification for the closure orders.
As is the case with many areas in Israel today Baruch Hashem, as younger residents move into areas, they bring Shmiras Shabbos along with them and this is what appears to be happening in Rishon. Unfortunately, the opening of shuls in the city has not brought smiles to the faces of all of the veteran residents who were happy with their community the way it has been for many years.
A shul opened in the elite N’vei Yam neighborhood of the city but shortly thereafter, a family residing in proximity to the beis knesses began complaining. As has been the case in Jerusalem’s Kiryat Yovel and other changing neighborhoods, some of the residents opposed to the presence of the shul began flaunting their Shabbos desecration by playing music and movies to the annoyance of mispallalim in addition simply greeting them with abusive language and other actions intended to offend and to agitate the Shomer Shabbos community.
A town hall meeting was recently held to enlist organized opposition to the shul, a meeting that was well attended. It was at this recent meeting that residents succeeded in persuading the mayor to act and order the shul closed based on violations of zoning laws.
One shul was opened about five years ago and it serves many mispallalim. The second shul is less than a kilometer away, on Harfsuda Street. According to City Hall, both were opened without permits.
City officials explain they are not opposed to shuls, but the law is the law and one cannot simply open a shul without proper permits and in total disregard of zoning laws. City Hall adds there is significant opposition to the shul so officials are compelled to act towards enforcing the law. City Hall stresses it is not opposed to shuls but there is a procedure that must be followed prior to opening a shul in any area.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
4 Responses
Once again backwards thinking, imagine this in monsey or brooklyn or the hamptons! And my co-mispallalim still stand up while someone says a me’shebarach for the ‘medina’ of the state of israel. (They never learned from the disengagement what the secular government they pray for is all about)
“both were opened without permits”.
Is this true or just journalism!!! If it is true, flaunting and ignoring the law of the city is not the way to begin observing & spreading Toras Hashem.
bklynmom, one can’t simultaneously flaunt something and ignore it! It’s a contradiction in terms.
And since when does Toras Hashem include the city’s zoning laws? Toras Hashem says that neighbours have no right to object to a shul.
Dear bklyn mom,
I think you want the word “flout.”