Rival Factions Pray Together at Ponevezh Yeshiva After Six Years
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
For the first time in six years, rival factions of the Ponevezh Yeshiva in Bnei Brak prayed together in the central hall following a Supreme Court decision. The court postponed the eviction of one faction until August 2027, imposing financial and legal conditions. The dispute involves the use of the yeshiva's name and premises, with a previous arbitration award ordering an eviction and substantial payment.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Rival Ponevezh Yeshiva factions prayed together in the main hall for the first time in six years.
- The Supreme Court postponed the eviction of one faction until August 2027.
- The delay is conditional on financial payments and ceasing use of the yeshiva's name.
- A previous arbitration award ordered an eviction and a payment of approximately 10 million shekels.
- The yeshiva currently serves 1,266 students and scholars.
For the first time in six years, students from the faction led by Rabbi Eliezer Kahaneman prayed in the central hall of the Ponevezh Yeshiva in Bnei Brak on Shabbat, following a Supreme Court decision. The presence of both factions in the main hall led to dozens of students from Rabbi Shmuel Markovitch's faction moving to a different prayer hall. The services were held under palpable tension, with prayer leadership eventually assigned to a cantor from Rabbi Markovitch's faction, adhering to a prior arrangement. Despite concerns of friction, the weekend passed without violence.
The Supreme Court's decision, issued a day prior by Justice Ofer Groskopf, postponed the eviction of Rabbi Markovitch's faction from the yeshiva premises until August 2027. This delay is contingent upon strict financial and legal conditions, including the complete evacuation of the premises by the deadline, written commitments from Rabbi Markovitch and the board by the end of November, and a complete prohibition on using the "Ponevezh Yeshiva" name or its associated logos and trademarks.
Further conditions include a ban on violence or provocation between the factions and a partial payment of approximately 2.5 million shekels plus VAT and linkage by December 13, 2026. Additionally, a monthly payment of about 270,000 shekels is required for the use of the buildings until the evacuation date.
This legal dispute stems from a previous district court ruling that upheld an arbitration award by retired Judge David Hishin. The arbitration had ordered Rabbi Markovitch's faction to vacate the premises, cease using the Ponevezh Yeshiva name, and pay around 10 million shekels. The yeshiva currently houses 1,266 students and scholars.
Justice Groskopf's ruling specifically addressed the request to delay the eviction and did not rule on the appeal itself, which is scheduled to be heard separately by Justice David Mintz. During a late October hearing, Justice Groskopf had proposed the current arrangement allowing Rabbi Markovitch's faction to remain until August 2027.
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