The hearing of pertaining to the unauthorized minyan in the home of a chareidi resident of Jerusalem’s Kiryat Yovel neighborhood resumed on Sunday.

The hearing revolves around the dispute of a minyan that has been taking place in the home of a chareidi resident of the primarily secular neighborhood. Residents opposed to the minyan and succeeded in obtaining a municipal order barring the minyan. Residents went to court in the hope of overturning the order, but the Friday hearing was cut short due to Shabbos. This past Shabbos, residents davened in the street.

The follow-up hearing took place on Sunday, at which time attorney Shtub argued the resident was not using his home in violation of the law, but within his rights as a resident. Shtub stressed the gathering in essence did not disturb the peace or bother neighbors, stressing the complaint came from neighbors in another street, neighbors that he labeled “provocateurs seeking to incite the area”. He called the complaint “annoying and irritating” adding the Shabbos davening had a “boomerang” effect, with many non-frum neighbors taking part and joining mispalalim in dancing as was reported (HERE) by YWN. Shtub added the fact that so many senior legal officials from City Hall were present in the court spoke for itself regarding an “agenda” pertaining to the complaint.

He added that for the past five years, a dental clinic was operating in the home and the city never shouted the apartment was being used in violation of the law. He also cited a small makolet grocery operated nearby, in total violation of zoning laws but this too is ignored. Shtub accused City Hall of “selective enforcement” and “cultural persecution”. After the four-hour hearing, no agreement was reached but the court promised its decision this week.

The rapidly growing chareidi neighborhood in Kiryat Yovel has also resulted in secularists vandalizing and posuling the eruv on many Shabbosim.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)