In an address to the Sixth National Culture & Halacha Kenos in Jerusalem, Knesset Finance Committee Chairman MK Moshe Gafne spoke of the difficulties in being chareidi in Israel today. He told his audience he is working very hard to push an affirmative action plan to benefit the chareidi public.

“All budgets pass through the Finance Committee and with your assistance, I will stop budgets and question and probe each and every one to determine if chareidim are getting their fair share. I will be the most cultured as one can be”.

Gafne explained he is working to bring an end to the discrimination that exists and despite the accusation of the chareidim making off with all the money, in fact, rarely do the chareidim receive a fair share and he is working hard to change this.

Gafne pointed out the kenos is attended by representatives of the Ministry of Culture, Mifal HaPayis (The national lottery), and representatives of all chareidi municipalities. The kenos he explained has become a major event in the chareidi community, an event in which annual activity is discussed and disclosed.

Among the chareidi leaders in attendance were Betar Illit Mayor & Head of the Forum of Chareidi Municipalities Rav Meir Rubinstein, Lod Mayor Yair Rabibo, Head of the Rechasim Council Rav Yitzchak Reich, Beit Shemesh Deputy Mayor Rav Shmuel Greenberg, Tel Aviv Deputy Mayor Rav Natan Elnatan, Herzliya Deputy Mayor Rav Elad Tzdikov, Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Rav Tzvika Cohen,

Manager of Tel Tzion Rav Nachmaniel Saban, Lod Deputy Mayor Rav Eliyahu Maimon, Tzfat Deputy Mayor Rav Nehorai Lachiani, Head of Education in Petach Tikvah Rav Menachem Schwartz, Head of the Torani Culture in Holon Rabbi Ilan Cohen Tzadok, Executive overseeing local councils in Jerusalem Rabbi Shlomo Rosenstein, CEO of Mayan Chinuch Torani Rabbi Chaim Biton, representing Beis Yaakov kindergartens, Rabbi Yitzchak Goldknoff and others. This year’s guest of honor was Interior Minister Aryeh Deri, who left a cabinet meeting to be in attendance.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)