Religious Zionism Party Leaves Givat Shmuel Municipal Coalition Over Rabbi Appointment and Yeshiva Dispute

Raz Schreiber, a member of the Givat Shmuel city council, announced his departure from the municipal coalition to join the opposition due to disagreements over the appointment of the city rabbi and the future of the Bnei Akiva yeshiva. In a letter to Mayor Yossi Brodny titled "Notice of Termination of Membership in the Municipal Coalition," Schreiber explained that after careful consideration and a sense of public responsibility, he concluded that the gaps between his public and ethical commitments and the city's policies were irreconcilable.

Schreiber highlighted two main issues prompting his decision. First, he criticized the city's prolonged delay in appointing a Religious Zionist city rabbi, a role he considers vital for the community's spiritual and public needs. He referenced a July 6 letter from the Ministry of Religious Services indicating the municipality's insufficient progress despite the limited time before the government enters an election period with legal restrictions.

Second, Schreiber opposed the city's unilateral decision to terminate its contract with the Bnei Akiva yeshiva center before the agreement expired. He described this move as fundamentally flawed and potentially damaging to the yeshiva's future, emphasizing its status as a leading educational institution with a 99% matriculation eligibility rate. He warned that financial and organizational uncertainty harms students, families, and public trust.

Schreiber stressed that coalition partnership requires alignment on core goals, mutual trust, and consistency between values and actions. He pledged to continue advocating for the city's residents, educational institutions, and the completion of the rabbi appointment process from his new position in the opposition.

Knesset member Michal Waldiger of the Religious Zionism party fully supported Schreiber's decision, calling it a courageous and necessary step. She criticized Mayor Brodny for failing to cooperate on key issues, including obstructing the rabbi appointment contrary to ministry guidelines and harming the Bnei Akiva yeshiva by canceling its operational agreement. Waldiger affirmed their commitment to serve Givat Shmuel residents responsibly from the opposition benches, emphasizing the need for consistency between declarations and actions in coalition governance.