For the first time in the history of Netanya, the capital of
the Sharon Region, a paragraph has been introduced into the
municipal budget for 2005 to provide funding for yeshivas and
kollelim following a prolonged struggle by Degel
HaTorah councilmen. Shinui representatives tried to torpedo
the initiative but Rabbi Moshe Lachover and Rabbi Yaakov Levy
of Degel HaTorah won broad support in the city council.
Last week Degel HaTorah representatives in Netanya voted in
favor of the municipal budget, which includes NIS 250,000
($60,000) in funding for kollelim. The two
representatives presented their constituents with an
impressive record of achievements in education and welfare
that were reflected in the budget.
In the previous elections, with blessings from gedolei
Yisroel, Degel HaTorah representatives managed to win
seats on the city council for the first time and now the two
representatives can point to a list of accomplishments.
Through their efforts the Mayor approved an additional sum of
NIS 100,000 ($25,000) for welfare organizations that work to
provide food for needy families. The municipal welfare budget
was increased by 5 percent and four new positions were opened
for social workers. As head of the Welfare Department Rabbi
Levy was able to secure the additional funding.
The City Council also approved an NIS 500,000 ($115,000)
project in cooperation with Yad Eliezer. During the course of
the year 60 avreichim from the city will tutor
talmud Torah students in need of help with their
studies. Also NIS 200,000 ($45,000) in support funding for
the new chareidi community center and NIS 100,000 ($25,000)
for chareidi cultural activities will be made available.
These achievements irked Shinui councilmen, who lashed out
against Netanya Mayor Mrs. Feirberg-Achar for "her surrender
to the chareidim." In response the two Degel HaTorah
representatives silenced the Shinui representatives, asking
them to elevate themselves rather than engaging in repulsive,
irrelevant attacks. Rabbi Lachover spoke harshly against
them, accusing Shinui of being "automatic scarecrows" who
oppose every religious matter without evaluating it. "Nobody
relates to you seriously anymore, even in other matters, when
you drag every matter toward the anti- religious," he told
them.
Rabbi Yaakov Levy referred to them as Lapid clones, setting
off an hour-long tempest. The council members were persuaded
and voted in favor of the budget by a large majority, with
the inclusion of support for Torah-based projects and
endeavors. The Degel HaTorah representatives noted shortly
before the vote the Mayor promised them the budget would be
updated during the course of the year to improve the state of
chareidi institutions.
