Some of the temporary minyanim serving the southern Jerusalem neighborhood of Har Choma have received orders from City Hall to shut down. While one cannot argue that the caravans and other minyanim are not zoned as shuls, the residents explain there is a critical shortage of shuls in the area and these minyanim are essential, adding some of the minyanim only operate on Shabbos.

Har Choma today is home to about 20,000 residents being members of the dati leumi community who are davening in the makeshift shuls. There are only two official shuls serving the entire neighborhood, presumably the result of city planners not expecting the neighborhood to become home to so many shomer Shabbat residents.

City officials report they received a number of requests to build shuls at the end of 2011 and these requests are being given top priority. Nevertheless, there is a protocol and criteria and this must be enforced. The city expects the appropriate committee to give its stamp of approval for new shuls in the coming weeks.

Regarding the temporary illegal shuls, city officials insist they are treating the matter with a minimum of enforcement whenever possible.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)