Maale Amos Council Members Push to Demolish Active Synagogue Amid Community Outcry

The controversy over the "Baal Shem Tov" synagogue in the Haredi settlement of Maale Amos has sparked significant unrest among residents. The dispute is not merely a local planning issue but a fundamental challenge to the community's values, as many find it hard to accept that a council committee would promote demolishing an active synagogue. Residents emphasize that the synagogue is not an ordinary public building but a sacred place hosting three daily prayers, Torah lessons, Shabbat and holiday services, family celebrations, and community events, integral to the community's lifecycle.

Recently, representatives of the synagogue's worshippers met with the head of the Gush Etzion Regional Council, who affirmed his stance that "a synagogue should not be demolished" and is working to find a solution to prevent the building's destruction. The community hopes the council members will reconsider their plan before the demolition proceeds, which would leave dozens of families without a suitable place of worship.

Residents urge the council to exhaust all alternatives before taking such an unprecedented step, stressing the public responsibility to preserve the synagogue. They also highlight the broader message this demolition would send, arguing that a Haredi settlement should be known for building, expanding, and strengthening synagogues, especially as Maale Amos plans to grow and absorb hundreds of new Haredi families from various communities.

The community calls for an immediate halt to the demolition plan and a return to dialogue to ensure the synagogue's continued operation, out of respect for the sacred space and the worshippers it serves.