Secular residents of Jerusalem are complaining that they are paying more for an entrance ticket to the city's municipal ice rink. They claim that residents of the city's ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods receive a discount on entry to the 'Yambakerah' complex, which opened in the old train station complex. They also complain that in order to separate the sales of expensive and cheap tickets, the municipality used the community managers in the ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods. The news was revealed by journalist Moshe Heller of Yedioth Jerusalem.
According to the residents, the municipality decided to grant an exclusive benefit to members of the Haredi sector by requiring them to pay 30 shekels for an entrance ticket, while the price charged to other residents of the city is 40 shekels. According to them, they understood from municipal officials that other representatives had assured the Haredi representatives that only music acceptable to the sector would be played on the sound systems, and that a synagogue and kosher cafeteria would be operated nearby for the benefit of those who come to spend time there.
Last year, ultra-Orthodox council member Yaakov Halperin of the United Torah Judaism faction requested that the recreation complex have separate hours for men and women, on the grounds that the Haredi community is concerned that the tight clothing worn while skating will discourage Haredi visitors. The request was then joined by Likud council member Elisha Peleg, but this did not come to fruition due to the municipality's opposition.
The municipality's response: "The price set for the separate hours is the same price that any resident with a Jerusalem card can enter at all hours, due to the late entry hours set for this population. The 'Yambakerah' complex is open to everyone, men and women, daily between 2:00 PM and 9:00 PM, on Thursdays until 11:00 PM and on Saturdays until 12:00 AM.""
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