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NEWS
Festive Meeting of New Modi'in Illit Local Council
By A. Cohen
The Modi'in Illit Local Council held a festive meeting after
its recent formation. All of the speakers noted the
prevailing unity and the privilege of being able to
participate in such an event. The meeting, held at the
community center in Achuzat Brachfeld, was attended by the
moro de'asra of the city HaRav Meir Kessler, local
rabbonim, roshei kollelim, MKs, principals of local
educational institutions and other public figures.
The event was led by the council's Communications Advisor,
who stressed the achievements made by the Council Head during
his first term including ten local ordinances that led to the
local council's structure of rule, underground
infrastructures, an education law starting at the age of
three that assists city residents, the amalgamation of Kiryat
Sefer and Achuzat Brachfeld with the closure of the road
between them to outside traffic, efforts to increase
employment — a goal the Council Head has been pursuing
vigorously — and the recently-approved school lunch
program.
Turning to the council's goals he noted funding for the
Shabbos electricity program, which has been backed by
gedolei Yisroel shlita, was already passed at the
council's first meeting.
The first speaker was HaRav Kessler, who thanked all those
who were involved in the election process, which served to
promote peace in the city, notably MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni and
Council Chairman Rabbi Yaakov Gutterman. He noted Rabbi
Gutterman's success in running local affairs, recalling their
first meeting four years ago when Rabbi Gutterman, with the
backing of all gedolei Yisroel, was asked to assume
the post.
HaRav Aharon Dov Freund, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Imrei Tzvi
and rosh kollel of Beis Abbo, conveyed blessings in the name
of the city's Torah institutions, noting the Council
Chairman's efforts toward developing local kollelim
and other religious institutions despite budget cuts by
government ministries. He called Rabbi Gutterman a true
shlucho derabbonon chosen through true elections since
gedolei Yisroel were the ones to select him.
Degel HaTorah Secretary MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni spoke about the
Degel HaTorah committee that worked with him to appoint the
deputy mayors of Bnei Brak and Jerusalem, Rabbi Avrohom
Rubinstein, Rabbi Uri Maklev and Rabbi Moshe Schiffman. The
committee came to the city, met with the various officials
and formed the list of council members together with local
residents. He also noted the dedicated efforts of the council
members and the need for cooperate on issues currently on the
agenda. He said although he knows numerous council heads
around the country, the Modi'in Illit Council Chairman is
unique among them and his work leads to kiddush Sheim
Shomayim.
Other speakers included MK Rabbi Meir Porush, Rabbi Shmuel
Halpert, Agudas Yisroel Secretary Rabbi Chanoch Zeivald, Shas
Chairman Eliyahu Yishai, Local Council Vice Chairman Rabbi
Gidon Cohen, Deputies Rabbi Mordechai Goldberg and Rabbi
Eliyahu Malul, Council Members Rabbi Menachem Shapira, Rabbi
Edward Narkis and Rabbi Yaakov Wallenstein and finally
Council Chairman Rabbi Yaakov Gutterman.
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