Two-and-a-half years after the last round of local elections,
rotation agreements between Degel HaTorah and Agudas Yisroel
were carried out in city councils across Israel.
In Rechovot Rabbi Shlomo Stern (Agudas Yisroel) resigned to
allow Rabbi Aryeh Stauber to take his seat. Atty. Stauber
represented the whole of the chareidi constituency in
previous terms. He was accepted by all segments of the public
and was held in high regard both in chareidi circles and by
Mayor Shuki Forer and other local leaders.
In Haifa Rabbi Aryeh Blitental stepped down to make room for
Rabbi Chaim Williger (Degel HaTorah). Rabbi Williger, Degel
HaTorah's first representative in Haifa, displayed dedication
and consistency in his previous post, and is credited with
many of UTJ's achievements together with his colleague, Rabbi
Blitental.
In Petach Tikva Rabbi Shlomo Korlansky (Degel HaTorah)
resigned to allow Rabbi Shmuel Tirer (Agudas Yisroel) to take
over. Rabbi Korlansky is a young representative who
demonstrated remarkable abilities in public activism during
his short term as a member of the city council and won the
admiration of all segments of the public in Petach Tikva. He
is expected to post many more achievements in the years to
come.
In Beit Shemesh Rabbi Eliezer Greenbaum (Degel HaTorah)
stepped aside to bring in Rabbi Avrohom Mordechai Berger
(Agudas Yisroel). Rabbi Greenbaum, a ten-year council
veteran, was the first chareidi representative of the
chareidi part of the city and Beit Shemesh's first Degel
HaTorah councilman. During this period he represented
chareidi Jewry with loyalty and distinction, and even made
numerous achievements for the city's bnei Torah and
the general public as well.
The rotation agreements were reached following efforts by
Rabbi Menachem Shapira and Degel HaTorah Secretary Rabbi
Moshe Gafni.
In Afula and Tiberius rotations are expected to take place
this week with Shas representatives giving their seats to
Degel HaTorah representatives — Rabbi David Ochana in
Tiberius and Rabbi Menachem Gold in Afula. Shas Chairman
Minister Eli Yishai and Shas Director MK Yaakov Margi told
Rabbi Gafni and Rabbi Shapira the rotation would be carried
out within the next few days.
Two months from now rotation agreements are scheduled to be
carried out in Herzylia, where the NRP representative is
slated to resign and bring in Rabbi Moshe Garshi (UTJ).
Since elections were held earlier in Jerusalem the rotations
were carried out before Pesach, with Rabbi Yosef Levy (Degel
HaTorah) stepping aside to make room for Rabbi Yosef Deutsch
(Agudas Yisroel).
