MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni met with Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav at the
beginning of the week to discuss the needs of the city's
chareidi residents. He also paid a visit to Nesivos Moshe, a
school in Kiryat Moshe, noting the dramatic increase in
enrollment.
During his visit to the Mayor's office, referred to as a work
meeting, Rabbi Gafni was accompanied by his aides and UTJ
Councilman Rabbi Aryeh Blitental, Nesivos Moshe Principal Rav
Shmuel Edelstein and Municipal Education Director Mr. Danny
Pessler.
Mayor Yahav and Rabbi Gafni know one another well from their
work in the Knesset and the meeting was termed a success.
Several issues that have a direct effect on the city's
chareidi community were discussed. The Mayor pledged to
increase enforcement measures against the Grand Canyon
opening on Shabbos by sending additional inspectors. Yahav
said the majority of secular residents also oppose the
opening of the mall on Shabbos as well as the opening of
other commercial areas in the city.
They also raised the issue of the funding the municipality
provides for teachers' aids and student evaluations at
chareidi institutions. Mayor Yahav said a committee is about
to be set up to assess the whole issue of chareidi education
and to seek a solution. He also pledged to fully support the
chareidi community center in the Hadar neighborhood. Other
issues affecting the chareidi community were also raised,
such as the use of the Quiet Beach for the chareidi community
in the summer.
The dire lack of funds for Nesivos Moshe, where enrollment
has been on the rise, also came up on the agenda. The
school's principal, Rabbi Edelstein, spoke forcefully about
the problem and offered possible solutions.
MK Gafni asked the Mayor to issue a decision by the end of
the meeting. Yahav rejected a proposal to give the school an
unused structure in nearby Kiryat Chaim, claiming the
residents would object. However a meeting might be arranged
with the neighborhood committee to try to persuade them to
cooperate.
At the end of the meeting the Mayor told Rabbi Gafni he would
ensure that land is allocated for the school. He also said
that as a short-term solution the municipality would allow a
temporary structure to be placed alongside the school if an
agreement is reached with the owners of the site. Immediately
after the meeting Rabbi Gafni paid a visit to the school
accompanied by the city council's UTJ representatives. There
he became familiar with the problems at the school firsthand
and expressed surprise at the size of the student body.
Honoring requests by local activists Rabbi Gafni ended his
visit at the gravesite of the amoro R' Avdimi Demin
Haifa to take note of the need for improvements and
renovation work at the site and at the nearby cemetery.
