In a letter sent by outgoing Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupoliansky’s legal advisor, attorney Yossi Chavilov to the incoming administration of Mayor-elect Nir Barkat, Chavilov points out the lack of funds for schools.

The summation of the three page letter is that funds allocated to rent buildings for talmidei torah in the city are being cut off, referring to schools affiliated with Shas and Chinuch Atzmai. To date, those schools lacking their own buildings were given a building at the expense of the city but now, Chavilov has decided to bring an abrupt end to that policy.

Shlomo Malek, who is responsible for the city’s chareidi education portfolio, explains that now that Barkat is moving into City Hall, Chavilov decided he can make the change. If this new decision is implemented, in about 90 days, some 3,000 chareidi students will find themselves without a school he explains. If chas v’sholom the decision is not reversed, it will be most difficult, especially with the global economic crisis, it will be most difficult for schools to enlist funds for a building or to rent one.

Malek explains that Chavilov tried implementing the decision in the past as well, but it was pushed off by the mayor and his staff. Now Chavilov feels confident he will succeed in pushing it through, hoping to receive the backing of the incoming administration.

The city’s legal advisor however does not appear satisfied with this, and is also questioning the continued payment of fuel for heating in the schools. In the letter, he states that funds for the coming month are be forwarded but he signals that following that, it will be a cold and difficult winter for the city’s chareidi students.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)