A Channel 2 News investigation seeking to determine if Members of Knesset use their offices reveals that MK Menachem Eliezer Moses of Agudas Yisrael rented an office in Beit Shemesh until a number of months ago, a venue that belongs to the Vishnitz Chassidus of which MK Moses is counted as a member.

It is noted that MKs are permitted to rent offices outside of Knesset, as many do. This facilitates remaining in touch with voters, making a MK more accessible. According to the report, Moses rents the space for NIS 5,000 monthly, the maximum amount permitted. The address listed with Knesset officials is 8 Yehoshua Street, Beit Shemesh. When investigative reporters arrived they were told MK Moses does not have an office there as the location is a beis medrash affiliated with the Vishnitz Chassidus.

In response, MK Moses told the media he is a Vishnitzer chossid but he is not a member of “Mosdos Vishnitz Beit Shemesh”. He added that he does indeed meet with voters at the locale and he represents all voters, not just Vishnitz chassidim and he is looking for a fair rental, which he has not found to date with the budget allocated and he stopped renting the office at the Beit Shemesh location a few months ago.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)