The court Hasidim belonging to the Ruzin House, in Israel and in the Diaspora, reacted last night with shock to what they call "the shameless attempt to desecrate the 'Tiferet Yisrael' synagogue in the Old City of Jerusalem, which was built and redeemed by the founder of the dynasty, the late Rebbe of Ruzin, with great devotion.".
The synagogue served for years as a central gathering and prayer place for the Hasidic community in the Jewish Quarter. It was completely destroyed during the War of Independence, and has stood in ruins ever since.
Recently, the authorities began working on the restoration of the synagogue, and in parallel with the approval of the government's decision on the restoration, government representatives promised that the synagogue would remain in its original form, as it operated in the past.
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However, it has now become clear that in the tender published "in the dark," as the Hasidim define it, by the Jewish Quarter Development Company, in an economic newspaper on the eve of Yom Kippur, strict criteria were set for the tender, according to which "the synagogue will be operated in a religious, Zionist and state format, with a visitor center that will be an international attraction for tourists from Israel and abroad, including a proposal for appropriate technology.".
In addition, a "national and Zionist educational teaching and training center including an attractive framework for hosting..." will be established on the site."
The news shocked the Hasidim, if only because of the thought that in such a holy place, a place about which the righteous spoke of as the source of all the prayers of the House of Israel to heaven, "and this is the gate of heaven," a tourist site would be established, which would, God forbid, harm the sanctity of the synagogue.
Among many Haredim, there is a growing feeling that this serious attempt at harm is part of a general and widespread struggle by those for whom the glorious expansion of Haredi Judaism in the Holy Land is a trifle, and they are making every effort to harm the heart of the people - the holy places.
The news caused particular shock among the followers of Beit Rozhin, who reacted with pain and promised not to remain silent "until this terrible decree is repealed over such a holy place.".
At the same time as the news was published, the Haredi representation in the Knesset came out to cancel the tender, which will close this coming Monday, while expressing a strong protest to the relevant ministers, explaining that Haredi Judaism will not be able to remain silent in the face of such a shameless attempt to take over the ancient and historic synagogue.
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