The Agudas Yisrael representative to the Haifa City Council, Aryeh Blitenthal, has remained conspicuously silent of late, despite City Hall evicting a yeshiva on a motzei Shabbos without authority. The building was emptied and the items belonging to talmidim thrown out even though the city did not have a court order to do so. In fact, when the yeshiva took its case to a Haifa Court, the latter ruled against City Hall, in favor of the yeshiva.

However, Blitenthal told Kikar Shabbos News he did not remain quiet as alleged by local Degel Hatorah officials, but in fact, he protested to Mayor Yonah Yahav regarding the yeshiva, insisting he did not have advanced knowledge of the planned motzei shabbos eviction of the yeshiva. He added he is not responsible for City Hall’s actions. He is also criticized for meeting with the mayor following the eviction and for remaining silent in the face of growing Chilul Shabbos and community center activities. Blitenthal however responded to these accusations by Degel Hatorah, and regarding his refusal to sign the letter of protest following the yeshiva’s eviction, he explained “I checked into the matter with my rabbonim and they instructed me not to sign the letter”.

Degel Hatorah Chairman MK Moshe Gafne however fears the situation in Haifa is far more serious and he expects Degel Hatorah and Agudas Yisrael will split and run independent of one another in the 2018 local election. Blitenthal however disagrees and feel the differences are minor and at the end, they should run under a combined last, assuring everyone the achdus will last to the benefit of all.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)