The battle for control of Meah Shearim’s Batei Warsaw continues, now moving to a new venue, the state’s secular courts.

A hearing was held on Thursday, 7 Adar 5772 in the Jerusalem District Court. Justice Gila Kanfei-Steinitz presided. The court heard both sides in the petition filed by residents of Batei Warsaw against the hekdesh.

The residents told the court that the current representation is illegal and they must be compelled to include residents on the vaad.

Attorney Kobi Amster, who represents residents, is quoted by Kikar Shabbat as saying “There is a war taking place in the streets. Blood is being spilled. Homes are being burned. They are walking around with batons. The question remains if the vaad should be replaced. In my opinion, when the vaad distributes funds without any criteria it is equivalent to theft. The hekdesh registrar is also of the opinion they should be replaced”.

Attorney Walla Kasis, representing the hekdesh, responded. “The findings of the report do not point to intentional actions”. Co-Attorney Yaron Kostolitz added “There is certainly no justification to replacing the vaad members. There is no evidence of malicious intent”. He added that he would not object to the appointment of neutral persons to the vaad.

The court instructed both sides to sit with hekdesh registrar officials in an effort to iron out differences. Among issues to be addressed is the number of people to serve on the vaad, to identify the vaad members, the trustees, those who will be added to the vaad and to work to correct current deficiencies.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)