Health Minister Yaakov Litzman on Tuesday, 14 Adar-I, accompanied Education Minister Naftali Bennett on an official visit to Arad. Litzman’s participation appears to be a response to reports Arad City Hall has been far from accommodating to the city’s growing chareidi community. The growing Gerre Chassidic community in the city accuses the mayor of ignoring their needs and as a result there is a critical shortage of kindergartens and shuls.

The two ministers were greeted in a dati leumi girl’s high school and then another school followed by a visit to a Gerrer talmid torah. They also visited a business employing 300 chareidi women from the city.

In a joking tone Litzman told girls in the high school “If you really do well in your studies, I promise you that you will not be a Member of Knesset. The best MK does not reach the level of a moderate student”. Litzman added “Studies are the most important and that which we learn when we are young stays with us forever. Now is the time to put all your efforts into school”.

Litzman then commented on his relationship with Bennett, adding “A good school, Ministry of Education, an excellent minister so no need to say too much. Our personal relationship is excellent as well. We work together and I hope you will succeed”.

During their visit to the Gerre talmid torah the mayo joined them. Seated aside the mayor and Bennett, Litzman said “I don’t look for places to visit. One visit to a hospital is more important to me than everything.

“I have a difficult system” stated Litzman in reference to the tensions in the city between the Gerre Chassidim and Mayor Ben-Chamu. “Unfortunately, I have had to deal with this once or twice weekly. I am compelled to come here to put out fires”.

Litzman then stated how the mayor has ignored him a number of times regarding shuls in the city but next time around he will okay new ones as well as the existing one.

Ben-Chamu responded “You are the Health Minister, not Minister of Religious Services” to which Litzman sated “You will be passing it, you said you wanted to…” continuing by telling the mayor if he makes the land allocations, he will see to it that the caravans are provided to place on them, adding “You have to do yours to solve the problem, the shortage of shuls”. Litzman then called on the mayor to also authorize new kindergartens for there is a critical shortage.

Bennett was full of praise, adding “Gerre Chassidus has a unique pride, a chassidus that learns Torah, Kiddush Hashem, and does a great deal of chessed but remains very modest. Litzman is also a representative of the chassidus as Minister of Health for all the citizens of the State of Israel. He does them both simultaneously”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem / Photo: עודד קרני via Media Resource Group)