Central Synagogue in Bnei Brak Faces Imminent Demolition After Legal Battle

After a legal struggle lasting about four and a half years, the fate of the "Ziv Yehuda" shtiebel in the Kiryat Herzog neighborhood of Bnei Brak has been decided. This week, the district court rejected an appeal against the demolition order, and the Supreme Court dismissed a petition attempting to halt the demolition. The community now fears that the Land Enforcement Authority could carry out the demolition at any time.

"Ziv Yehuda" is the largest prayer hall in northern Bnei Brak, operating around the clock and serving thousands of worshippers daily. It hosts continuous prayers, Torah lessons, and religious activities attracting residents from across the region. Community members claim that while nearly a hundred synagogues built on green land in the city have been regularized in recent years, "Ziv Yehuda" was uniquely excluded from these arrangements intended to prevent demolition.

The synagogue's caretaker says that over the years, various officials promised a solution for all synagogues, but despite these commitments, "Ziv Yehuda" remains outside the regulatory framework. The community also criticizes National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who they say was involved in promises to regularize all synagogues equally, yet no solution has been found to save this shtiebel.

The timing adds to the community's distress, as the demolition threat looms just one day before Tisha B'Av, a day of mourning for the destruction of the Temple. The synagogue is especially active during this period, with thousands of worshippers and yeshiva students attending daily. Residents of Kiryat Herzog are urgently calling on Bnei Brak municipality and public officials to intervene immediately to prevent the demolition.

They emphasize that elected officials are representatives of the public and must fulfill their commitments. The community warns that if the demolition proceeds, the struggle will shift from legal battles to public protest, with thousands refusing to give up their synagogue and the reality demanding attention.