"The City of Bnei Brak can serve as an example of a strategic
vision and willingness to work to promote the city and its
development in order to boost business and business
enterprises on a wide scale," said Finance Ministry Director-
General Dr. Yosef Bachar at a conference for CEOs of large
businesses in Israel, held at Keter HaRimon Halls in Bnei
Brak following an initiative by Mayor Rabbi Yissochor
Frankenthal. Under the heading, "Window on the World of Bnei
Brak," the Who's Who of Israeli business were invited to tour
the city.
City Secretary and Spokesman Avrohom Tannenbaum said that
this represents the first conference of its type in the
chareidi sector. The conference drew dozens of CEOs from the
country's leading commercial and industrial organizations who
were privy to a close-up look at the unique world of the
chareidi sector and its special characteristics. He presented
the conference participants with a window of opportunity for
commercial leverage in today's chareidi public with its
substantial buying power. He also presented new options and
initiatives and opportunities for cooperation in the
framework of "community-business partnership."
The conference opened with words of welcome by Mayor
Frankenthal, who surveyed the history of the city which was
founded 80 years ago by a group of chareidi Jews from Warsaw.
They left behind affluent homes to set up a city on rocky
ground in the spirit of Judaism. Although celebrations to
mark its 80th birthday were avoided in order to save on
expenses, the city is prepared to make concerted efforts to
raise funds to develop infrastructures such as parks, and to
improve the city's general appearance.
Rabbi Frankenthal noted that Bnei Brak is one of the largest
centers for Torah education in the country, a Jewish city
boasting hundreds of chessed and mutual aid
organizations. It is a city of developed industry with some
of the biggest factories in their respective fields anywhere
in the country as well as three new commercial centers.
Since assuming the post of mayor 15 months ago, the Mayor
said, he and his colleagues on the city council have been
working to contend with the difficult economic state of
affairs through a drastic and painful recovery program and
through maximal efforts to develop the northern part of the
city economically. During a tour of the city, the CEOs
visited Yeshivas Ponovezh where they were impressed by the
sight of the thousands of dedicated students and were briefed
by Yeshiva Secretary Rabbi Bulg.
They also had the merit of spending a few thrilling moments
at the home of HaRav Aharon Leib Steinman, who blessed them
for success. He said that just as Eretz Yisroel is among the
smallest countries on the globe, but the whole
world—whether it admits it or not — takes note of
its attributes and its ethical qualities and uniqueness, the
same can be said of Bnei Brak with its 149,600 residents, the
vast majority of whom keep Torah and mitzvos, including tens
of thousands of Torah scholars. The city is a central
lighthouse in Eretz Yisroel, through its Torah scholars and
the wonderful mutual aid among its residents, he added.
HaRav Steinman also spoke about the attributes of chareidi
education, with its emphasis on Torah, yiras Shomayim
and derech eretz, noting that negative developments
taking place in the government schools are not manifest in
the chareidi education system.
A reporter for Ha'aretz described the visit to HaRav
Steinman as "a strange sight: Those accustomed to spending
their time in lavish office suites and fancy non-kosher
restaurants suddenly had to crowd around in front of Rabbi
Shteinman's little desk and wait with impressive patience for
him to speak."
From the heights of the nearly complete Besser Towers, which
soar 32 stories, the Mayor stressed the importance of the
accelerated development of the northern portion of the city.
He then introduced Rabbi Yaakov Asher, deputy mayor and
chairman of the Subcommittee for Planning and Construction,
as well as Mr. Shalom Shimon. The two provided an overview of
City Building Plan 572, which is in advanced phases of
construction. The project is slated to provide 1.5 million
square meters of space at a facility near the new rapid
transit train station, including areas designated for
commerce, industry, high-tech and office space.
The chareidi consumer market in Israel was estimated at NIS 7
billion a year by The Marker magazine. Some 55 percent
of the population have a home computer, and 82 percent have
mobile phones.
Dr. Bachar noted the great pleasure he derived from his visit
in Bnei Brak, which is not only a world center for Torah
study but also a growing industrial center. He also mentioned
the commercial potential the city offers as well as the
motivation and professional strategic thinking on the part of
Mayor Frankenthal and the municipality to promote the city
and its development in various spheres.
Mr. David Baruch, CEO of Bank Yerushalayim, spoke of mutual
aid in the chareidi sector to provide housing for young
couples, the low rate of delinquent payments on mortgages,
and the attractiveness of real estate activity in Bnei Brak.
The price per square meter on the main street, Rechov R'
Akiva, comes to $9,000-$10,000, which is comparable to prices
in central Tel Aviv. He said that at the same time the cut in
Children's Allowances was done in a harsh and painful way
that is liable to increase the cycle of poverty. Similarly
the reduction in housing grants makes purchasing homes
difficult for the young generation. He went on to speak about
spending patterns in the chareidi sector, casting the
chareidi public as a model in various fields, such as opening
low-priced grocery stores for large families. He also
provided a survey of the range of social services and the
extensive job- training activity in the city.
CEOs participating in the conference hailed from El Al, the
Delek Group, Coca-Cola, Carmel Mizrachi, Efrat Wineries,
Sakal, Dan, Xfone, ORT, Globes, Betucha Investments, Tenuva,
Office Depot, Visa CAL, Leumi Card, Yisracard, Pelephone,
Ashchar, the College of Administration, Arad Communications,
Adler Communications, Afikim, Bolton Potential, Totza'ot
Efectiviot, Krimlovsky-Cohen, Tambour, Oneg, Tzifcha
International, Cumbers, Teva, Paka Industries, Sano and
Dehamker.
Also in attendance at the conference were Deputy Mayor Rabbi
Pinchos Tzabari, Rabbi Nisan Yigal Guata, a member of the
city's Executive Board and head of the Department of Social
Services, Rabbi Simchah Shteitzberg, a member of the
directorate of the municipal development company, Municipal
Treasurer Rabbi Aharon Adler, and Mrs. A. Mauel, director of
the Department of Social Services.
