The planned meeting between chareidi representatives and Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat took place on Sunday 7 Adar. Among those attending were MK Moshe Gafne and HaGaon Rav Baruch Solovechik, who is also a member of Degel Hatorah’s Vaad Rabbonim.

It is pointed out the rav is a strong personality in the party, one who is known for getting things done, including dealings with the city’s mayor.

That said, there is a difference in approach between the two as Rav Solovechik is a believer in dialogue with the mayor and his chareidi advisors while Gafne is generally opposed to speaking with Mayor Barkat directly.

Gafne and Rav Solovechik met privately at first, and they were then jointed by Councilmen Yitzchak Pindrus, Eliezer Ruchberger, Yisrael Kellerman and Itzik Brenner of the local branch of Degel. They discussed the need for maintaining the city’s Shabbos status quo, which is being trampled by the current administration. There was also discussion about the meeting this week with Mayor Barkat by Ministers Yaakov Litzman, Uri Ariel and Aryeh Deri along with Gafne.

It was decided that the chareidi councilmen will use the vote on the 2017 city budget to pressure the mayor to agree to maintaining the Shabbos status quo “as it should be in Jerusalem, the palace of the King”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)