Last week, the Housing Ministry's Director General, Rabbi
Meir Shlomo Greenberg, signed an official authorization of
986,000 shekels for the project of expanding and renovating
the central Itzkowitz shul in Bnei Brak. This sum was
transferred by the Ministry to the Bnei Brak Municipality.
Itzkowitz is the largest "minyan factory" of Bnei Brak.
Located near a central intersection, it serves thousands.
The Deputy Minister said that he is very pleased at having
been able to play a major role in the rebuilding of this
mikdash me'at, and called the Itzkowitz synagogue a
center of tefilla and Torah in the life of the world's
greatest city of Torah and Chassidus, Bnei Brak.
Rabbi Porush praised the efforts of Rabbi Meir Shlomo
Greenberg, who made great contributions towards the
completion of this endeavor.
"Fortunate are we for having merited this," Rabbi Porush
said. "We will continue our efforts with added vigor, despite
the poisonous darts being aimed at us for having built `too
many' synagogues and mikvaos throughout the
country."
Rabbi Greenberg said that as a resident of Bnei Brak he is
well aware of the urgent need to rebuild this synagogue which
has been a beacon for the residents of the largest chareidi
city in the world since its early years.
Rabbi Greenberg added that he regards it as a great privilege
to be involved in the founding of botei medrash and
synagogues throughout the country, and is especially
gratified by his role in the rebuilding of this beis
medrash and by the noteworthy sum his ministry was able
to contribute. This sum will go a long way in providing those
who daven in Itzkowitz with an appropriate place to
pray and learn, he said.
The new building will contain a number of rooms in order to
meet the great demand of the many people who seek to
daven and learn there. The entire area is currently
fenced-off and construction is proceeding at a rapid pace.
The entire project is expected to cost over NIS 3 million,
not including the cost of the adjacent property that was
acquired some time ago. Most of the funding is being raised
from private donations.
