Jerusalem city inspectors simply ordered the wrong marpeset destroyed, leaving an elderly invalid in a most difficult situation. Mrs. Vivian Menachem has had the marpeset in question for decades and suddenly, it was declared illegal and destroyed. Only through the direct intervention of Mayor Nir Barkat was the error corrected and the new marpeset is almost completed.

This story takes place in December 2015, when Mrs. Menachem was informed her marpeset was going to be destroyed. The elderly resident of the capital has limited eyesight and other disabilities and she explained the marpeset plays an important role in her life, permitting her to sit outdoors on sunny days and get some sunshine. She told MyNet she often did so on Shabbos but now things will change.

All efforts to persuade city officials as to the legality of the structure fell on deaf ears and so it was destroyed.

Alas, only after the destruction, the error was discovered. The inspectors had the wrong apartment and wrong marpeset. However, no one was offering to replace it and only after pressure was applied did the mayor and his deputy, Meir Turgeman become personally involved and things then began moving along.

Mayor Barkat met with Mrs. Menachem in person to apologize and he made sure the new one was constructed in an expeditious fashion.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)