Last week, the media rushed to distort remarks that had been
made by Chief Rabbi of Kiryat Ata, HaRav Shulsinger to the
effect that non-Jewish immigrants are taking over his city.
An attempt was made to present his remarks as general
criticism of immigrants from the C.I.S. Interested parties
in Kiryat Ata were incensed at the Religious Affairs
Ministry over its lack of support for Rav Shulsinger.
In his letter, HaRav Shulsinger writes that he had cautioned
against this trend last year, warning Mayor Yaakov Peretz
about the dire consequences of the opening of stores selling
pork by non-Jewish immigrants. "They'll bring about your
downfall," he warned the mayor.
In his letter, HaRav Shulsinger warned that the Jewish
residents of Kiryat Ata were liable to leave the city en
masse, and said that the city is on the verge of
spiritual collapse due to the opening of businesses on
Shabbos by non-Jewish immigrants, the opening of stores
selling pork, and demands made on government schools to
teach the New Testament, Rachmono litzlan.
In his letter, HaRav Shulsinger describes the chain of
events that led to the arrival of non-Jewish immigrants to
Kiryat Ata. He says that the city will soon become the
"northern center for non-Jews. Jews are fleeing Kiryat Ata,
which is becoming a suburb of the port city of Odessa." He
noted that the non-Jews get drunk and conduct pogroms that
are suppressed by the media. "It won't be long before all
Jews will be forced to run away from Kiryat Ata, because it
will be impossible to live in a city of pogroms."
The mayor is also not blameless. According to HaRav
Shulsinger, Yaakov Peretz is encouraging the tide of non-
Jewish immigration into the city. However, these immigrants
will eventually oust him and elect their own mayor. As a
final measure before total collapse of the city, HaRav
Shulsinger demands enforcement of the municipal auxiliary
laws forbidding the sale of pork and requiring Shabbos
closure of businesses.
HaRav Shulsinger's letter aroused a media storm. The media
hastened to distort his words, presenting his letter as
criticism against Russian immigrants in general, including
Jewish ones. Chareidim in Kiryat Ata note that every time a
chareidi public figure speaks in an incisive manner about
the non-Jewish immigration -- accusing it of antisemitism --
he is attacked by Leftists, with media backing.
News reports from 22 Iyar stated that MK Yehudit Naot of
Shinui has demanded that the Religious Affairs Ministry
dismiss HaRav Shulsinger. Yair Revach, media advisor to the
Religious Affairs Minister, issued a puzzling announcement
stating, "The Attorney General has appealed to the Religious
Affairs Minister due to the fact that the rav has made a
number of harsh statements in the past. The Religious
Affairs Minister has asked the Chief Rabbinate to examine
the issue and state its opinion, as well as to determine the
proper response."
Activists trying to stop the non-Jewish antisemitism of
recent immigrants wonder what has drawn the Religious
Affairs Ministry into the whirlpool of propaganda sparked by
the media, especially since HaRav Shulsinger has made it
clear that his remarks were explicitly directed at non-
Jewish immigrants only.
