Chareidi Achdus Around Shas Candidate In Maalot Elections

There is achdus among the chareidim in one municipality, the northern municipality of Maalot, where the tzibur will be backing the Shas candidate, Rav Shlomo Sussia. In the second slot is Rav Tuvia Glazer. While the chareidim do not represent a significant population in the city, it is somewhat refreshing to report on achdus in one venue regarding the upcoming municipal elections.

A “kinnos achdus” was held on Monday, 23 Elul, in the home of Rav Gil Ben-Shoshan, with the participation of MKs Michael Michaeli and Yinon Azoulai, both of Shas. At the gathering, it was decided and agreed upon that Sussia will be backed by chareidi residents, Ashkenazim and Sephardim alike. This will undoubtedly strengthen Shas and the chareidim in the city.

Also present for the event were Rav David Levi (director of the talmid torah), Rav Oded Netzani (Rav of Kehillas S’dei Tzofim), Rav Shlomo Sussia (Shas head in the northern city), and Rav Tuvia Glazer (the second slot candidate).

Degel Talks About A Divorce – Litzman Fires Back

Degel Hatorah officials continue talking about running apart from the chassidish Agudas Yisrael faction of Yahadut Hatorah in the Jerusalem municipal elections, as well as in some other cities. Deputy Health Minister (Agudas Yisrael) Yaakov Litzman, who is affiliated with the Gerrer Chassidus, fires back.

During his address at a Gerrer event on Sunday evening, Litzman rejected statements from Degel officials that they were being discriminated against by the chassidish Agudas Yisrael faction. He also denied an “internal split” within Agudas Yisrael and threatened Degel with breaking the agreement in place with Degel Hatorah in Bnei Brak.

“They shouldn’t threaten us with splitting,” Litzman said in his speech, adding a threat of his own: “If we do not go together in coordination in Jerusalem, we will not go together in coordination with Bnei Brak.”

As for the size of the Litvish party, Litzman said, “It makes no sense that Degel is bigger than Agudah. Did you hear of any epidemic among the chassidim?

“I heard something else,” continued Litzman. “I heard that there is a serious split among the litvish, and that Belz and other groups joined us.”

At the end of his speech, Litzman continued to rely on the old agreement in Yahadut Hatorah, saying that “Maran HaRav Shach ZT”L and the Pnei Menachem ZT”L decided the split would be 60:40 and there has not been any change from this.”

Aryeh King Speaks Out Against Berkowitz’s Hisorarus Party

Aryeh King, chairman of the Me’uchadim (United) faction and running for slots on the Jerusalem City Council, attacks the Hisorarus list that was revealed Sunday evening in a gathering of party activities, led by party chairman, Ofir Berkowitz.

King opposed the appointment of Aliza Arens, the daughter of former Foreign Minister Moshe Arens: “The cat is out of the bag. For those who are still unclear, the appointment of Aliza Arens, who is affiliated with the New Israel Fund, makes it clear that there is no difference between Hisorarus and Meretz.

“As a member of the previous council, I often found myself pausing in the face of Ofir Berkowitz’s votes on clauses that undermine Israel’s sovereignty in Jerusalem and undermines the positive Jewish demographic balance that has existed in the city since it was liberated in 1967. The appointment of the left-wing Aliza Arens, along with Likud affiliates such as Dan Iluz, Elad Malka and Avishai Cohen, will be a disgrace on the heads of my three friends who belong to the right-wing camp, at least that’s what I thought ”

King called on right-wing Jerusalemites “to vote for the only right-wing party running for municipal council.”

Leon Acts To Prevent More Chilul Shabbos In Kiryat Yovel

Moshe Leon, a candidate in the Jerusalem mayoral race, acted to prevent the local minhelet in Kiryat Yovel from airing movies on Shabbos as the local officials planned.

According to the BeChadrei Chareidim report, Leon, whose duties in the city include overseeing the local minhelet (community government), succeeded in using his authority to prevent the community from showing movies on Shabbos. Leon was successful in having the vote removed from the city council agenda now, and it will not reappear for at least two months, until after the mayoral elections.

Leon was hoping to be the ‘chareidi candidate’ before Agudas Yisrael announced the candidacy of Deputy Mayor Yossi Deutsch. At present, Shas appears to be unofficially backing Leon, but chairman Minister Aryeh Deri has yet to make an announcement. However, last week, Leon met with Chacham HaGaon HaRav Shlomo Cohen Shlita, head of the Moetzas Gedolei Torah of Shas, and he gave him a bracha for success in his bid to become the next mayor of Yerushalayim.

Berkowitz Supporters Gather In Mamilla To Announce The Party’s Election List

One of the three leading candidates in the Jerusalem mayoral race, Hisorarus party chairman Ofir Berkowitz, held an election assembly rally on Sunday evening, which was well attended, bringing over 500 supporters together. The event was held in the Kedma Hall in Mamilla, at which time the participants drank a toast to the upcoming new year.

Berkowitz used the event to announce his list, which includes four women in the first ten positions of the lineup, as well as representatives of the new immigrant, religious, secular, and chareidi communities.

The second slot in the lineup is held by a former Likud activist and a current member of the Jerusalem City Council, attorney Einav Bar-Cohen.

Third position: Elad Malka, 33, a lecturer in economics and society, the director of the Association for the Public’s Right to Know and a member of the Likud party.

Fourth position: Aliza Arens, 62, an architect by profession, a resident of Rechavia and the daughter of former defense minister and foreign minister Moshe Arens.

Fifth position: Dan Iluz, a city council member who has been living in the city for the past 9 years since his arrival from Canada, a deputy director of cooperation in the jgive project and a member of the Likud party.

Sixth position: Yamit Yoeli Ela, 40, resident of Kiryat Yovel, business enterprise in the restaurant field, active and volunteer in the community for nine years.

Seventh position: Adir Schwartz 24-year-old resident of the Katamonim and a political science student, founder of the Neighborhoods League for Girls.

Eighth position: Avishai Cohen, 35, and a member of the chareidi community who served in the IDF’s elite 8200 intelligence unit, a volunteer for 10 years in the promotion and integration of youth and adults, of all population strata in the Talpiot-Baka-Katamonim neighborhoods. He is a partner in philanthropic activities for disadvantaged and structurally disadvantaged groups. He is currently studying for a BA in Education and Society. He is a social and political activist and leads initiatives in favor of the working chareidim and director of the chareidi Sector in the party.

Ninth position: Yosef Spitzer, 35, a resident of Rechavia/Nachlaot, a member of Bayit Yehudi, CEO of Israel 2Go, a doctorate candidate in history and archeology, founder of the Digital Forum-Children on the Net, and member of the Israeli Leadership Forum.

VIDEO: Soccer Star Backs Elkin In Jerusalem Mayoral Race

While it may not speak to chareidim, the backing of a former soccer star in Israel gives a significant boost to the candidacy of Minister Ze’ev Elkin, who remains in the top three in the city’s mayoral race.

Former Betar Jerusalem symbol Eli Ochana on Sunday evening announced he is joining joins the Yerushalayim Tazliach list headed by Elkin. “I am certain that his experience will preserve the fabric of Jerusalem’s life,” Ochana stated.

In a video filmed by Eli Ochana and Minister Ze’ev Elkin, Eli Ochana, chairman of Betar Jerusalem, who was considered the symbol of the team, announced recently that he is joining the Elkin’s list and supports Elkin’s candidacy for mayor.

“I am happy to meet with Ze’ev Elkin, the candidate for mayor who in my opinion is the most likely to win the election race.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)