Beit Shemesh Surpasses Bnei Brak in Housing for Haredi Sector
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
MK Yaakov Asher visited construction sites in Beit Shemesh to address the Haredi housing crisis, stating the city is set to become the largest Haredi center, surpassing Bnei Brak. The tour highlighted the Ramat Beit Shemesh Aleph-2 project with 5,000 units and praised the Ministry of Housing for its progress. Asher also discussed the need for community infrastructure and vowed to change housing lottery policies. The visit underscored Beit Shemesh's growing importance as a housing solution for the Haredi sector.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- MK Yaakov Asher toured Beit Shemesh construction sites to address the Haredi housing crisis.
- Asher declared Beit Shemesh will become the largest Haredi city, surpassing Bnei Brak.
- The Ramat Beit Shemesh Aleph-2 project will add approximately 5,000 housing units.
- Asher thanked the Ministry of Housing for advancing infrastructure for Haredi residents.
- He called for establishing educational and employment centers before new residents arrive.
- Asher vowed to change "Mechir L'Mishtaken" housing lottery policies after elections.
United Torah Judaism Chairman MK Yaakov Asher conducted a tour of new construction sites in Beit Shemesh this week, aiming to address the housing crisis within the Haredi community. The tour, led by local Planning and Building Committee Chairman and Deputy Mayor Shimon Goldberg, revealed extensive development plans for the city, which Asher declared is poised to become the largest city for the Haredi public, surpassing Bnei Brak. A significant part of the development includes Ramat Beit Shemesh Aleph-2, a project slated to deliver approximately 5,000 housing units.
Asher expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Housing and Construction for advancing the project, noting that infrastructure work is already underway for a neighborhood designed for the Haredi population. He specifically thanked Minister of Housing Rabbi Goldknopf and the ministry's Director General Yehuda Morgenstern for their rapid progress. Asher also emphasized the importance of establishing educational institutions and synagogues before residents move in, to avoid past difficulties in new neighborhoods. He highlighted the need for economic development and employment centers within the city.
During the tour, Asher revealed behind-the-scenes efforts to prevent retroactive changes to the "Mechir L'Mishtaken" (Price for the Resident) lottery program, attributing the success to significant pressure and a legal challenge. He vowed to change the program entirely if his party gains sufficient power after the upcoming elections. Asher concluded with a strong political call to action for the local elections, urging community members to actively support their own cause, stating, "No one will take care of these things for us, no one cares. We need to take ourselves into our own hands."
Deputy Mayor Goldberg thanked Asher and the national Haredi representation for their ongoing support, acknowledging that such development would not be possible without their influence on national and district planning committees. Mayor Shmuel Greenberg echoed these sentiments, describing Beit Shemesh as the "real solution to the housing distress" due to its location and pastoral setting, making it a highly sought-after destination. It was also noted that in September, the District Planning and Building Committee approved for deposit the "Central Quarter" plan, which will add approximately 16,000 housing units on 1,000 dunams in the city's core, including a significant employment and commercial complex, and educational and public institutions tailored to the Haredi public.
Mentioned
The same event, reported separately by each outlet. Open a few to compare what different newsrooms emphasize — and what they leave out.
Only Kikar HaShabbat so far.