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13 Teves 5760 - December 22, 1999 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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News
Antiquities Authority Damages Yeshiva's Temporary Buildings

by Betzalel Kahn

On 11 Kislev, Antiquities Authority workers caused heavy damage to temporary buildings near the Even Yisroel Yeshiva, founded by Yeshivas HaRan and currently located in Jerusalem's Ramat Polin neighborhood. The ravage was perpetrated at the same time that negotiations on the issue were being held with members of the Authority.

The Even Yisroel administration had set up a number of temporary buildings in the area near the yeshiva, where 120 students study. Before erection of the buildings, the yeshiva administration had clarified the issue with the Land Administration. The Administration replied that the land was ownerless. After receiving this answer, temporary buildings were brought to the site, with the intention of dismantling them when a solution to the problem of the yeshiva's lack of space was found.

On 6 Kislev, while the temporary buildings were being set up, Antiquities Authority workers arrived on the scene and informed the yeshiva administration that the area is an archaeological site and that the buildings were illegal. No signs declaring the area an archaeological site had been posted at the site.

Due to this notification, the yeshiva did not erect an additional building they had prepared, and all work on the site was stopped. On Wednesday afternoon, upon the intervention of Rabbi Moshe Gafni and his assistant, Yaakov Rosenstein, a meeting was held between the yeshiva administration and representatives of the Antiquities Authority to find an immediate solution for the problem. During the meeting, the sides stepped out in order to tour the yeshiva.

At the time of the tour, HaRav Tzvi Weisfish, the rosh yeshiva of Even Yisroel, told the head of the archaeological team, John Zeligman, that the yeshiva had no idea that this was an archaeological site. "You're speaking about antiquities from the Byzantine period? We preserve the `antiquities' from the period of Har Sinai," the Rosh Yeshiva said.

Although a genial atmosphere prevailed at the meeting, the Antiquities Authority spokesperson later issued a false statement to the media, saying: "Serious damage has been caused to the archaeological site at Ramat Polin after tractors entered a defined archaeological site in the middle of the night and removed archaeological remains from the area."

Yeshivas Even Yisroel made it clear to representatives of the Antiquities Authority that at the time of their visit to the site no damage had occurred, and that their tractors had operated during the day. It was also claimed that in contrast to the Authority's announcement, no sign marked the archaeological nature of the site, and no ancient vestiges had been removed. At the meeting, even before the announcement to the press was known, it was agreed that the yeshiva would not make use of the part of the area defined as an antiquities site, and that by evening the Antiquities Authority would approve the remaining area.

In the afternoon, the misleading announcement of the Antiquities Authority was issued. Immediately, Rabbi Gafni's aide contacted the directors of the Antiquities Authority. The Authority claimed that the announcement was a mistake, and that it stood by the agreement.

Only a few moments passed, and out of the blue, Antiquities Authority workers, accompanied by policemen, arrived on the site with a huge crane. Quite rapidly, they removed the temporary buildings, causing heavy damage.

The yeshiva administration, as well as Rabbi Moshe Gafni and Rabbi Meir Porush, who were asked to intervene, were enraged by the violation of the agreement and by the Authority's unreasonable behavior. The suspicion was raised that the meeting between the yeshiva administration and the Antiquities Authority was merely intended to afford the Authority time to issue the announcement to the media and to destroy the temporary building, causing the yeshiva great financial loss.


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