[SEE NOTE AT END OF ARTICLE] Among the media frenzy surrounding the now-famous statements made before an audience of Belzer Chassidim by Jerusalem mayoral candidate Rav Meir Porush, it is blatantly clear that his words were mistranslated by the media.

YWN on Monday night took the time to listen to his original words again, as they were said in Yiddish, and it is clear that Porush stated that in the next 10 or 15 years, it will be difficult to find a “chareidi area without a chareidi mayor”.

It must be stressed that he did in fact make a reference to chareidi areas only, explaining to the mainstream media that his comments were not intended as a master plan to chareidi-ize the entire country.

In essence, he did not need to elaborate or ‘explain’ since his words were clear when they were uttered, but it appears the tape distributed to the media, translated by an unknown party, was erroneous. Was this done intentionally or may it be attributed to the poor Yiddish of the translator remains a subject of debate.

NOTE: I visited the ‘Porush for Mayor Campaign’ headquarters on Monday night, located in Yerushalayim’s Har Chotzvim area, observing, listening and speaking to some of the campaign workers, who are confident that Porush will be the next mayor of the Jewish capital.

On Wednesday night, this correspondent is planning to attend a meeting with the mayoral hopeful, to listen and ask a number of questions. YWN readers are invited to submit questions which I may try to pose to the candidate at the meeting. A report will follow blei neder the following day.

Questions may be submitted to [email protected]

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)