Aliza Bloch is schooling Bet Shemesh

Kikar is reporting that Aliza Bloch, Mayor of Bet Shemesh, is responding publicly, for the first time, to the issue of "Bar Ilan" - the neighborhood that was secular and is now mixed with Haredi families (also called a "mitchared" neighborhood - a neighborhood in the process of becoming Haredi) but seemingly suffering from a lack of proper buildings and locations for their schools and shuls. In recent weeks the Haredi residents of the Bar Ilan neighborhood have gotten very vocal and loud, pasting signs and holding protests in various forms all around the city, even disrupting, violently, an event at which the mayor was present and participating in.

Until now Bloch has not commented publicly about this issue, leaving everyone to wonder where she stands on it, what the City opposition, or lack of assistance, is based on, and how this will get resolved. Now Bloch was asked and has responded.

The author starts by pointing out that Bloch's policy has been to work on improving the existing Haredi neighborhoods but not to meddle in the old neighborhoods and change status quo.

So, Bloch explains that the city, as it came into her hands, was short 1000 classrooms. Many Haredi students were in schools in caravans and rented apartments or other inappropriate structures. Bloch says she set a goal to get as many kids as possible into proper buildings, but all kids are equal and just because one group of people starts screaming and making trouble does not turn their demands into legitimate or higher priority than others - those who scream and speak not nicely, will not get serviced.

Bloch adds they even tried to turn the issue into a secular-haredi fight, thinking they would benefit form hafganot. There are some activists who think that terror and noise will get them results. Most of the Haredi community, she says, did not join their loud fight but rejected it.

Nobody wants, Bloch says, a mayor who makes decisions just because someone screamed. When they realized that screaming will get them nowhere, we are all ready to help and find and implement available solutions. When you scream it is as if you do not exist.

Bloch then went on to relate specifically to the mixed neighborhood - she said there are many Haredi neighborhoods and she is taking care to make sure they are given excellent care. She is busy telling the secular people that there is place for them in bet Shemesh as well and trying to help them keep their neighborhood character so they'll stay. Bet Shemesh can have mixed dancing, a cultural center and the beis medrash. Bet Shemesh can have mixed-gender events and separate-gender events. This is a model necessary for Israel and there is no need to use hate to get elected..

Aliza Bloch learned lessons from the school systems she taught in and administered for many years, and she is bringing that to city leadership. Terror does not pay. Screaming is not what gets results. Some in national government should pay attention.

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