Some members of the Givat Mordechai neighborhood of Jerusalem, which has been primarily dati leumi for years, are angered over a recent planning board decision permitting a new chareidi kollel, shul and banquet hall. The neighborhood is turning more chareidi, as is the case in other areas of the capital, and the veteran dati leumi residents are not necessarily pleased with the changing demographics.

The Local Planning & Building Committee gave its approval for a new chareidi kollel, shul and banquet hall in the heart of the community, angering many.

Despite audible objections from the majority of the community, the planning board gave its approval. Opponents explain that the plan approved deviates from what is accepted in general aspects of planning, parking and the size of the building. They feel the newly approved structure is a high rise that will compromise the character of the neighborhood dramatically.

Opponents add the plan explicitly contradicts a decision of the allocations committee in the past. The allocations committee refused to allocate the area to both chareidim and dati leumi community NGOs as it claims construction is possible for a 500-700 square meter facility, but the plan approved allows for a 1,600 square meter structure.

Adding to the anger of dati leumi residents is the fact that the city’s Bayit Yehudi representatives supported the complex in the vote, while in statements preceding the vote, the party’s local chairwoman, Councilwoman Chagit Moshe, spoke against the chareidi structure. Members of the Hisorarus party voted against the plan.

Chagit told the weekly Kol Ha’ir newspaper “We are not going to give in on this. I sat with the aide of [Yahadut Hatorah Councilman] Eliezer Ruchberger and made it clear to him that I am adamantly opposed to its establishment. We have a commitment to residents from the previous administration that it would be only a shul, which we approve, and suddenly, it become a talmid torah and kollel.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)