As the filing date for municipal elections approaches, last
week maranan verabonon told Degel HaTorah the time has
come to notify Agudas Yisroel it is prepared to fully
implement the agreement drawn up during the current term at
Bnei Brak City Hall.
In accordance with this directive, Mayor Rabbi Mordechai
Karelitz met with Agudas Yisroel Chairman Rabbi Yosef
Cooperberg last week and told him the current agreement
should be implemented in full, exactly as it appears in
writing. Rabbi Karelitz announced his withdrawal from the
mayoral race, as per the agreement.
The two organizations will conduct sessions aimed at reaching
an agreement on the selection of a mayoral candidate from the
ranks of Agudas Yisroel and deputy mayors from Degel
HaTorah.
Degel HaTorah leaders expressed their esteem and appreciation
of Rabbi Karelitz for his blessed efforts for the sake of all
of Bnei Brak's residents, noting his enormous success and the
exceptional siyata deShmaya he merited during his six
years in office. They thanked Rabbi Karelitz for putting the
city on the right track through intelligent, insightful
leadership, showing great concern for all of the city's
residents despite the many challenges he had to confront upon
taking office. These difficulties, said Degel HaTorah
figures, did not prevent him from keeping City Hall
functioning smoothly without a single strike during his
tenure.
"Rabbi Karelitz," they said, "left his imprint on every part
of the city, improving its appearance beyond recognition and
turning its administration into a model for government and
financial bodies around the country, through the full and
unusual cooperation of all political parties in City Hall and
with every single member of the City Council, in a manner
almost unknown at all other local authorities."
But most important of all, noted Degel HaTorah, was the
unreserved confidence the city's gedolei Torah from
every stream had in him and the tranquility the city enjoyed
throughout his time in office. The outgoing mayor also won
the trust and respect of government ministries, local
authorities, economy heads and the financial establishment,
allowing him to maintain smooth, uninterrupted operations in
the city.
In announcing he would not run for reelection Rabbi Karelitz
wished the as yet undetermined Agudas Yisroel candidate
success in the difficult task of being responsible for Bnei
Brak residents in a manner befitting the city of Torah and
Chassidus.
