The generator set up in Jerusalem’s Ramat Eshkol neighborhood supplies electricity on Shabbos and yomim tovim for the Bnei Yeshivos shul along with about 35 families.
While years ago Ramat Eshkol was an area of elite Ashkenazi secularists and a strong dati leumi community, today it is rapidly becoming home to many former American kollel families. As the dati leumi shul loses members, the chareidi community, both American and Israeli, continue to grow.
Truth be said, in this case, the operators of the generator have given opponents ammunition by running a PVC fuel line across the generator’s outer housing, exposed to the dry are brush, with opponents expressing fears of the safety and fire hazard involved.
Opponents insist that fire department officials over the past year have cited the dangers involved with the PVC fuel lines but nothing has been done. Yochanan Bechler, who heads the community council, insists he is not opposed to the shul, or even the generator which was planted on public ground, but he cannot tolerate the exposed fuel lines which pose a hazard to the entire area. He adds that children frequently play in the wooded area and he is afraid nothing is going to be done until there is a tragedy chas v’sholom.
Bechler explains that since he made demands to correct the condition, the situation has deteriorated and some members of the local council have actually been verbally abused.
City Hall reports a criminal indictment is being processed towards correcting the situation, adding the city’s legal officials are preparing the case.
YWN has contacted a number of individuals in the frum community to obtain a response. No one is willing to go ‘on record’. Should a response follow the release of this article, it will be published at a later date.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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11 Responses
Ramat Eshkol was never an elite neighborhood. It was where the poor dati lumi people went to because it was cheep. its right by and over the green line.
I lived there in from the 70’s to the 90’s.
If the article is accurate in its description then Mr. Bechler is quite right. However, it does seem funny that a community of Americans would not be concerned about the possible dangers involved. Thus, I question if some of the facts are missing. Time will tell.
I wonder which Mr. Spira more celebrates; the rise in the Chareidi population, or the diminution of the Dati Leumi community?
Mr. Spira belongs to the Dati Leumi camp. Stop trying to pick a fight.
Research the man, and crawl back into your cave. You always attack people here.
You disgust me.
Now publicly apologize to Mr. Spira. And if you need proof who he is, email the editor. I’m sure he can assist you.
“…today it is rapidly becoming home to many former American kollel families.”
?!
My apartment building is mostly kollel couples – American, English, and Israeli. (There is one Israeli working couple and one old man who is retired.)
The words “the operators of the generator have given opponents ammunition” is something that happens again and again.
We chareidim keep complaining about those that are anti-chareidi, but we never miss an opportunity to give them a reason to complain!
I am not sure what the point of this item is.
If indeed there is a danger to public safety then people are quite right to be upset by it. I am not sure why the headline trys to portray this as secular against frum.I would prefer it if YWN try to find stories portrying Achdus as oppossed to items portrayed as a schism between Frum and non-Frum
We need to be responsible for public safety and to ty and avoid creating a Hillul Hashem even if the problem at hand is for a Shul
In response to No 4. Can the editors verify his assertion?
cantoresq- I think Mr. Spira did a fine job of explaining both sides of the story here, and I don’t think it makes any difference what his religious affiliations are. What is your point?
#8- YWN has a mechanism for communication with them- it’s called email.
Try that next time instead of attacking a fellow Jew. I’d like to see a post with your handle that doesn’t involve insults or attacks. It’s time.
Fully agree with #10 about the maintenance in Ramat Eshkol. The buildings and gardens have gone right downhill since we moved in four years ago, since no one is interested in them. It is such a shame, the area used to look so attractive. The Vaad Bayits are all impossible to manage now with so many renters. PLEASE – care for the neighbourhood!