United Torah Judaism Leaders Meet in Beitar Illit Ahead of Elections

Leaders of the United Torah Judaism party, MK Meir Porush and designated MK Eliyahu Stark, held a preparatory meeting in Beitar Illit on Sunday ahead of upcoming elections. The meeting is part of a series of gatherings across the country with local representatives of the party to strategize for the crucial elections on November 9th. The Beitar Illit meeting included Mayor Meir Rubinstein, Deputy Mayors Gedalyahu Eisenstein and Meir Bar Lev, Deputy Mayor Menachem Mendel Schwartz, Council Member Be'erish Shimaya, and Council Members David Spitzer, Yoel Froelich, Eliezer Lutskin, and Uzi Shalom.

MK Porush emphasized the importance of strong national representation for the continued development of Haredi cities. He noted that Beitar Illit is attracting new communities and chasidic groups, with the municipality actively allocating land and providing for religious and educational needs. "Any chasidus that wants to come to Beitar knows they are welcome with honor," Porush stated. "The mayor is working to ensure every community receives a plot for a synagogue, and subsequently, if needed, the possibility to establish a Talmud Torah, a girls' school, a yeshiva, and more. These matters also depend on national bodies and several government ministries. Without strong representation in the Knesset, government ministries will trample the ability of Haredi cities to develop."

Designated MK Stark praised Beitar Illit's governance and the cooperation among its Haredi representatives, presenting the city as a model for unified Haredi public conduct. "Beitar Illit is an example of what a city looks like when Haredi people lead it and operate with unity," Stark said. "Everyone receives good services, religious services, educational services, welfare services. You hardly see synagogues in trailers; everyone is satisfied and receives what they are entitled to. This is also evident in the city's cleanliness despite all the challenges, and they consistently receive five beauty stars here. This is what it looks like when Haredi people work in unity, achieve phenomenal results, and this model should be replicated in national endeavors in the upcoming term."

Mayor Rubinstein addressed the importance of voting in the elections, countering claims that voting is unnecessary due to legal actions against Torah scholars. He responded, "If someone has a dispute with a neighbor, do they leave their home and sleep in the street? We must not harm ourselves! The fact that our emissaries did not succeed in overcoming the legal decrees in the last term should not lead us to allow greater harm to the world of Torah." He urged, "This is a fateful election, and it is imperative to vote Gimel to save the precious from the worthless, as our rabbis have instructed."