Degel HaTorah representatives in Beit Shemesh held reception
hours at several locations in Beit Shemesh's chareidi
neighborhoods to assist avreichim submitting requests
for property tax (arnona) discounts.
Degel HaTorah Councilmen Rabbi Moshe Montag and Rabbi Eliezer
Greenbaum, along with an attorney and Rabbi Shmuel Greenberg,
secretary of the local branch, held reception hours at
several locations, including Beis Knesses Kehillas Yaakov in
the Mishkenot Yaakov neighborhood, Beis Knesses Masseis
Mordechai and Beis Knesses Chanichei Hayeshivos in Ramat Beit
Shemesh Alef, Beis Knesses Shaarei Torah in the Bayit
Umenucha neighborhood, Beis Knesses Heichal Avrohom in the
Nachala Umenucha neighborhood, Beis Knesses Chanichei
Hayeshivos in Ramat Beit Shemesh Beit and several of the
city's main kollelim — Yeshivas Eretz Tzvi in
Ramat Beit Shemesh and the various Ateres Shlomo
kollelim.
Hundreds of avreichim and bnei Torah took
advantage of the reception hours, arriving with the documents
needed to apply for a discount on their property tax bills
for the year 2006. In addition to the guidance Degel HaTorah
representatives provided, they collected the request forms to
pass them on to the municipality collections department to
save the avreichim the time and cost of having to go
to city hall on an individual basis.
Before the reception hours, the Degel HaTorah councilmen held
a preliminary meeting with collection department
representatives to facilitate the submission process by
trying to do away with various requirements from previous
years.
The Degel HaTorah representatives noted that although the
reception hours focused on the issue of property tax
discounts they also received various requests for assistance
in a wide range of issues related to the municipality,
joining the many similar requests for assistance in dealing
with government bureaucracy which they receive on a regular
basis all year round.
