At a meeting between the Finance Minster, Avraham Beige
Shochet and the UTJ Knesset representatives, Rabbi Avrohom
Ravitz and Rabbi Meir Porush, various issues were raised,
which were later on discussed by the government at its
deliberations on the budget. The Finance Minister responded
to the requests of Rabbi Ravitz and Rabbi Porush, and agreed
to reexamine a number of the issues which were liable to harm
the chareidi community.
One of the issues which will be given special attention is
that of the nonprofit organizations. According to the
proposal under deliberation, every new nonprofit organization
will be able to apply for government support only two years
after the time of its founding. Rabbi Ravitz and Rabbi Porush
explained to the Finance Minster that this will prevent or at
least discourage the founding of educational institutions on
various levels, if they function as nonprofit organizations.
Many chareidi schools are organized legally as nonprofit
bodies.
By the same token, the policy of the government toward the
housing grants and support in Elad-Mazor will be
reconsidered. The MKs told Minister Shochet that the reasons
for preferring Elad-Mazor are as pertinent today as they were
in the past. Additional issues which were supposed to be
discussed within the government's decisions were also raised.
This discussion wasn't held within the framework of the
general discussion over the budget, and will be held shortly,
along with the UTJ representatives.
