Citing a “conflict of interests” as the reason, Ashkelon city manager showed Ashkelon Councilmen R Nissim Chalfon and R’ Yehoshua Buchnik a nine-page document from city legal officials citing concerns over the fact the two are school principals of schools receiving city funding, and as such, their presence on the city council represents a conflict of interests. The two Yahadut HaTorah representatives are being asked to submit their resignations.

The two rabbonim run Chinuch Atzmai affiliated mosdos in the city, with Rav Chalfon overseeing the Pele Yoetz Talmid Torah and Rav Buchnik the Netzach Yisrael girl’s school.

The HaMevaser report adds that the two were not elected by party faithful as one might believe, explaining the Yahadut HaTorah community in Ashkelon is relatively small, attesting to the fact that their presence on the council is due to their wide support base in the general community. In addition, a large percentage of the city’s Yahadut HaTorah neighborhood is low-income families that constantly require assistance.

City residents who spoke with HaMevaser are quoted anonymously as saying “we are aware they run schools. We knew this when we voted for them and we want them in the council.

The rabbonim told HaMevaser that to date; they have not submitted their resignations, adding they have no intentions of doing so.

Commenting on the affair, Deputy Minister of Education HaRav Meir Porush stated that the entire affair was not handled appropriately, since city officials should not have unilaterally reached such a decision without probing the matter in depth and speaking with the persons involved.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)