The Tel Aviv-Jaffa Local Planning and Construction Committee approved by a narrow majority a request by the Scientology cult to make irregular use of a municipal building located at Sderot Yerushalayim 19 in Tel Aviv-Jaffa.
Months ago the local subcommittee approved the request to use the building for Scientology classes, but due to a demand by four subcommittee members representing religious parties, the request was returned to the committee for another vote.
Leading poskim have expressed their deep concern over Scientology, which not only poses a threat to unwary people's personal funds, but also propounds certain forms of idolatry.
An inter-ministerial board of inquiry devoted a long chapter of its report to Scientology, expanding on various dangers it poses.
"This is definitely an unfortunate decision," Rabbi Moshe Lachover, one of the director's of Lev L'Achim's Anti-Cult and Anti-Missionary Department, told a Yated Ne'eman reporter this week. "Representatives acquiesce to proposals they do not understand, not realizing the grave repercussions of assisting a cult that misleads and deceives people, and has claimed many victims. The large, stately building they set up in Tel Aviv for their classes will invariably cause serious harm and many people will fall into their trap."
"In many Western countries Scientology has been restricted, and even banned, while here in this country total abandon prevails in regards to dangerous mystical cults, that operate freely. At Lev L'Achim, we will continue to dedicate our full energies to battling these cults."
