23 the Givat Mordechai neighborhood of the capital becomes increasingly chareidi, there are growing tensions with the veteran dati leumi and secular residents of the neighborhood.

MyNet reports that there are four chareidi kindergartens in the neighborhood today for 140 children, most neighborhood residents and some traveling from the Katamon area. However, only one kindergarten meets criteria for a kindergarten as two are located in apartments and another in what used to be a vegetable store. It is not suitable due to the lack of windows and play area, as it is quite small, 20 square meters.

As a result of the lack of space, the city has authorized the other venues even though they do not meet the minimum standard for a kindergarten. The city also authorized building two new chareidi sector kindergartens, which were to be completed in time but they were not. The city has since decided to add stories to the two planned kindergartens for the dati leumi and secular sectors, and this is the reason given for the delay.

Some voices from the chareidi community are calling to allocate the additional buildings to the rapidly growing chareidi community and this has the veterans concerned that their community will be overrun by chareidim as they are already trying to get the two buildings intended for the dati leumi and secular children. City officials explain they continue to work for all the children and the city does not differentiate between the needs of one sector over another, operating without consideration for one’s race or religion but the city works to close the education gaps that exist in sectors of the city, in this case, the chareidi sector.

The city acknowledges the severe shortage of classrooms for the chareidi sector, as was reported by YWN-ISRAEL regarding the Beis Yaakov in Bayit Vegan and other areas.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)