As a result of tenacious efforts by Yahadut Hatorah councilmen in Yerushalayim, a significant increase in the city budget for 2013 for chareidi mosdos and projects has been approved, the daily HaMevaser reports.

The Yahadut Hatorah councilmen during recent months have been holding marathon meetings and working round the clock to meet with and persuade city officials of the budgetary needs of the chareidi tzibur in the city. They succeeded in securing a 52 million NIS increase over the chareidi budget in 2012. This means 322 million NIS will be allocated to the chareidi education system in the city and an additional 30 million NIS for development. In addition, City Hall has agreed to finance installing air conditioners in many schools and an additional 5 million NIS for general refurbishing and improvements. An addition 1 million NIS was secured to finance summer camps in July 2013.

In other city chareidi funding issues, 1.5 million NIS is allocated for a fitness center for the chareidi community of Ramat Shlomo. As a result of pressure from local boards in Maalot Daphna and Ramat Eshkol, home to many American chareidim, a facility will be constructed for physical activity as well, one that will have the needs and lifestyle of the chareidi tzibur in mind.

An additional 200,000 NIS was approved for a new master plan for those neighborhoods with the realization they have become chareidi and the needs have changed and a new plan is required to accommodate today’s new reality in those areas.

Millions of NIS was secured to refurbish many playground areas in chareidi communities. The new budget has already been approved so the funding is secured.

Deputy Mayor Yosef Deutsch and Yahadut Hatorah faction head in Jerusalem Rav Yaakov Halprin are quoted telling HaMevaser that the new budget “is not ideal from Yahadut Hatorah’s perspective” and there is still need to increase funding in many areas for the city’s chareidi tzibur. They explain the city had to make cuts and the fact that the national government failed to pass the state budget hurts local municipalities too. They are hopeful that following general elections and the passing of a state budget, then they will be able to apply for special grants for areas like cultural activities, explaining that today, the chareidi tzibur in the capital does not receive funding in line with its population numbers in Yerushalayim.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)