Deputy Minister of Religious Services Rabbi Eli Ben-Dahan feels too much time and money is being spent addressing the issues of African aliens whom have overrun southern Tel Aviv and not enough to assist the Jews in that area.

Ben-Dahan feels the dati leumi community; the young in particular, will play a vital role in revitalizing the many shuls that lay dormant in the southern city. In his recent visit to the area he met with neighborhood residents he announced that he is confident the religious Zionist movement will spearhead the effort to effect change in that area of the city towards restoring it to its former glory. A name plaque was unveiled at the entrance of the Marmarush Shul ( בבית הכנסת מרמורוש) in the N’vei Sha’anan neighborhood which hosts the hesder yeshiva which held a slichos event.

Ben-Dahan spoke of the role of the city’s religious council and the establishment of the “Mishpat L’Am Institute” to teach Shulchan Aruch to students, focusing on halachos pertaining to monetary matters.

“We must work to bring the Jews back to southern Tel Aviv. We cannot worry about African aliens before worrying about the Jews. The shuls must be returned to their owners. They must be renovated and restored to the former beauty. This is the remarkable work of a garin of dati leumi young that launched the Shapira neighborhood and now the hesder yeshiva with H-Shem’s assistance. I call upon the young to come and live here and restore the ruchniyus that once existed in the area” Ben-Dahan concluded.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)