YWN spoke with Rav Nachum Boyer on Thursday afternoon, who is affiliated with Yeshivas Birchas Yosef in Ohr Yehuda. The story is indeed sad, since the villain appears to be the mayor, David Yosef, not a non-Jew and not a foreign government.
Rav Boyer explains that the yeshiva today Baruch Hashem numbers almost 300 talmidim and at present, the students are living in abhorrent conditions in caravans, but they are committed and plan to stay no matter what the future brings. The yeshiva was founded some 20 years ago by Rav Yaakov Friedman, who toiled to bring Yiddishkeit to the city, and he succeeded, Rav Boyer points out.
The former mayor, Yitzchak Bakovza, saw the institution for what it is, realizing it is an asset to his city. As such, he decided to give them an empty school, giving them the foundation for a permanent building. The yeshiva has since been working in earnest to raise funds, and it has already invested over NIS 1 million in the buildings. Simultaneously, Lev L�Achim has contacted the yeshiva, asking for some space, which they were granted of course.
Lev L�Achim is slated to use the kindergarten building, a separate smaller structure, and one classroom. Rav Boyer explained to me that the mayor learned of the plan and without any notice or forewarning, sent a bulldozer and destroyed the kindergarten structure totally and damaged the classroom as well as the main building. Lev L�Achim apparently attempted a dialogue with the mayor too, but without success. He remains steadfast in his determination to prevent the growth of the chareidi community.
I asked Rav Boyer if all the municipal permits were in order and he stated with absolute certainty that the former mayor issued all the necessary paperwork and Mayor David Yosef not only acted in malice, but broke the law since everything going on in the buildings is legal. Rav Boyer told me that they have filed a complaint with police and it appears court intervention will be required, further delaying the planned entry to the new structure.
I asked if any MKs were involved, seeking to act as shlichim on behalf of the yeshiva and Rav Boyer explained just a day or so earlier, Degel HaTorah MK Rav Moshe Gafne met with the mayor, but he was unwilling to listen.
Rav Boyer explained Communications Minister (Shas) Ariel Atias is also a graduate of the yeshiva, but no one seems able to assist due to the "hard-line anti-chareidi policies of the mayor?. In addition, Rav Boyer explained if the Interior Minister was sympathetic, he could pressure the mayor fiscally speaking, but Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit has not displayed too much affinity for the chareidi community and he is currently too preoccupied with his Kadima primary race.
In short, the mayor caused significant damage and the talmidim are not going to enter the new building any time in the near future.
(Yechiel Spira � YWN Israel)
http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/article.php?p=22757
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