PHOTOS: Head Of Greater Baka Community Council Backs Yossi Deutsch

(PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE)

In a move coming as a surprise to many, the cross-sectoral support for the only chareidi mayoral candidate in the Jerusalem election, Deputy Mayor Yossi Deutsch, has expanded

Bracha Edelstein, the head of the community administration of Greater Baka, on Monday expressed his support for Deutsch’s candidacy for mayor: “I know Deutsch from his work at the municipality, as his door is open to all, and he is a bridge between the various populations living in Jerusalem.”

After the Jerusalem mayoral candidate, Yossi Deutsch, received a reinforcement from the secular head of the community administration Lev Ha’ir, Dr. Ofir Lang, the support is expanding, this time headed by Bracha Edelstein, a member of the dati leumi tzibur and a veteran activist in Bayit Yehudi, as well as heading the Greater Baka neighborhood administration.

Bracha Edelstein explains: “I know Deutsch from his work at the municipality, as his door is open to all, and I sent him residents who needed individual help, and he also helped every community administration that came to his aid. I greatly appreciate his activities throughout the years. He has the skills and ability to manage the city with interest and promote cooperation. Deutsch is a bridge between the diverse populations living in Jerusalem.”

Edelstein says that she is exposed to the secular support he receives: “Many of them explained that they intended to support Deutsch for mayor, thereby breaking the barriers between the sectors.”

Edelstein adds: “I myself grew up in national religious Zionism and still belong to it. I believe in ‘a man in his faith will live’ (׳איש באמונתו יחיה׳) and as long as a person is law-abiding and loyal to the state, he must be judged according to his qualifications and not his beliefs.

The mayor of Jerusalem must build a vision for the city and manage the central issues that plague the residents. The management of “minor” issues should be left to the residents, through the community administrations, who do wonderful work and help both the municipality and the residents and strengthen them and give them more resources.

Deutsch responds: I am full of gratitude and admiration for the head of the Greater Baka neighborhood administration, Bracha Edelstein for her support. Edelstein is a very active and a Jerusalemite in her neshama and her support for me is a further confirmation that in a human connection and in the right work, the entire public in Jerusalem can be united.”