Jerusalem's Ramot neighborhood is set to become a center of
activity for the chareidi sector of Jerusalem in the coming
months based on a comprehensive plan led by Mayor Rabbi Uri
Lupoliansky to build halls, community centers and leisure
facilities.
To construct the first of the planned buildings, slated to go
up on Rechov Kadima in Ramot Alef, the Mayor recently
allocated a sum of millions of shekels, which would
supplement similar sums provided by Mifal Hapayis. The
building will be used for various leisure activities as well
as for facilities for high school girls organized under Benot
Batya. The municipality will also build an adjacent park and
playground.
Renovation work on the Tvunas Yaakov fitness center in Ramot
Alef is now nearing completion. The renovation project, which
cost half a million shekels, was carried out to make a range
of fitness activities available to the chareidi public, with
separate days and special tznius arrangements
delineated by the local rabbonim.
The construction of the buildings joins a number of similar
plans at other locations initiated by Rabbi Lupoliansky in
order to expand community services in the neighborhood and to
provide activities adapted to suit the chareidi public. The
municipality is currently in the advanced planning stages of
Jerusalem's largest educational and community center for the
chareidi population, that will replace the structures in the
area known as "Har Manadim" (after the Hebrew initials for
describing manufactured buildings) that is located at the
edge of Ramot 4, near the northwest entrance to the city via
the Ramot Road.
Slated for construction at the site are over 100 classrooms
for talmudei Torah and other educational institutions,
at an unprecedented cost of NIS 140 million ($36 million).
The Mayor also raised additional funding from outside sources
to build a large multipurpose center at the site and approved
the allotment of land for educational institutions and non-
profit organizations that will eventually operate there.
On a large area of 40 dunams (10 acres) surrounding the new
complex the municipality plans to develop greenbelts with
innovative play equipment for the students attending the
institutions as well as neighborhood residents. Also to be
built at the complex are a conference and an events hall, as
well as an enclosed fitness center with separate days for men
and women. In collaboration with the local rabbonim the
municipality is considering the possibility of building a
swimming pool with very strict standards of modesty.
The plans for the community complex include special emphasis
on safety and traffic arrangements. The municipality has
hired the services of some of the country's top traffic
engineers to evaluate how to best accommodate traffic at the
entrance to the facility while maximizing pedestrian
safety.
