MK Moshe Gafne is not sitting by quietly as the Jerusalem Municipality is expected to evacuate the Talmid Torah Sanhedrin building to accommodate the Old Beis Yaakov High Seminar, as the latter is suffering from severe overcrowding. Rabbonim however reject the plan, stating a solution for a Beis Yaakov cannot be at the expense of a talmid torah.
In an interview with Kikar Shabbos News, Gafne discussed the issue and the city’s plan, stating emphatically he would not permit City Hall to oust the talmidim. “If Barkat tries to evict them he will have to evict me together with them” he added.
It appears an understanding has been reached between the city and the principal of the Seminar, Rabbi Yisrael Levin, by which the talmid torah will be evacuated to permit it to serve the Beis Yaakov because they are short on space for hundreds of girls next year.
Despite Gafne’s threats, the city has informed the school that is would not be available to the talmid torah next year and for the time being, an alternative venue has not been found.
Officials of the talmid torah explain they cannot understand how the city can simply oust 300 students without offering a different site, adding clearly the mayor continues to hold empty buildings that serve the dati leumi community while the chareidi community is choking for space.
Chinuch Atzmai has also signaled it may strike if the city ousts the talmid torah without finding a new solution for the 300 talmidim.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
2 Responses
Just how many non-Hareidi institutions have been vacated to make room for Hareidi? In Beit Shemesh the only school with enrichment programs (and the facilities to support such) was vacated by the mayor to make room for Hareid girls school while the previous occupants were forced into a building so run-down that it was not safely habitable, The point is that the rule was established by the courts that despite the fact that the enrichment programs building was paid for and designated by the federal government, the mayor has absolute right to allocate. So does that verdict suddenly disappear now?
it’s all one big show!
gafni and co have closed a deal with barkat for next elections which are coming up soon…
but they can’t just sit back and pretend that e/thing is fine and dandy, so he puts on a show
‘he’s waging war’ – ha ha!