Givat Shmuel Mayor Defends Education Focus Amid Dispute With Bnei Akiva Yeshiva

The mayor of Givat Shmuel addressed the ongoing conflict with the Bnei Akiva Yeshiva center in the city, explaining why the municipality canceled its agreement with the institution and clarifying that his criticism is not directed at the yeshiva's educational staff. He emphasized that the municipality, not the yeshiva center, is responsible for the education of the city's children.

The mayor recounted the history of cooperation, noting that when he took office 18 years ago, the yeshiva was smaller and less successful academically. Over time, the municipality invested heavily in the yeshiva, including financial support to reduce tuition fees and over 15 million shekels in infrastructure improvements. However, a 2018 State Comptroller report revealed that the yeshiva had withheld critical financial information and received funds improperly, particularly for grades seven and eight, which are part of compulsory education and should be funded by the municipality.

Between 2018 and 2020, the municipality drafted a new unilateral agreement, providing about 1.5 million shekels annually, with conditions including accepting all students, including those with learning difficulties, transparency in financial matters, and resolving illegal building violations on the yeshiva's premises. The mayor accused the yeshiva center of systematically breaching the agreement by closing off financial transparency, ignoring building code violations, overcrowding classrooms, and refusing to accept weaker students from Givat Shmuel.

He also revealed that the yeshiva sought to open a girls' dormitory and requested permission to build two nine-story buildings with commercial space, which the municipality opposed. Due to these breaches, the municipality canceled the agreement, leading to ongoing legal proceedings. The mayor stressed that the municipality will not allow the yeshiva to harm the city's education system and intends to manage the yeshiva similarly to other local educational institutions, ensuring financial oversight and appropriate student enrollment.

He concluded by urging residents to remain patient and assured them that the municipality, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, is committed to providing a successful school year and maintaining Givat Shmuel's status as a leading educational center in Israel.