A number of roshei yeshivos took part in a special meeting to
discuss the housing crisis among bnei Torah. The
roshei yeshivos discussed the possibilities currently
available to avreichim and the difficulty in bearing
the costs of marrying off children.
The heads of Binyan Sholem, founded by Degel HaTorah of
Jerusalem, presented an overview of various projects
currently marketed to bnei Torah in chareidi towns and
elsewhere.
The roshei yeshivos shared accounts of painful cases of young
couples seeking advice on how to alleviate the burden on
parents trying to purchase apartments for their children. The
shortage of work for kollel wives was also raised on
the agenda in light of the increased cost of living as well
as cuts in government funding and allowances in recent
years.
A decision was reached to start a committee comprised of
HaRav Boruch Shmuel HaKohen Deutsch, one of the roshei
yeshiva of Yeshivas Kol Torah, HaRav Dovid Cohen, rosh
yeshiva of Yeshivas Hevron, HaRav Yigal Rosen, rosh yeshiva
of Yeshivas Ohr Yisroel, HaRav Yehoshua Ehrenberg, rosh
yeshiva of Yeshivas Chadera, HaRav Gavriel Yosef Levy, rosh
yeshiva of Yeshivas Be'er HaTorah, and HaRav Nachman
Leibovitz, one of the roshei yeshiva of Yeshivas Mir.
HaRav Moshe Frank and Rav Menachem Blumental of Binyan Sholem
spoke about the new project slated for construction in
Yeruchom. HaRav Tzvi Friedland, who has led the Torah
community in Yeruchom for decades, also addressed the
rabbonim.
As an initial step the roshei yeshivos decided to start a
unique kollel in Yeruchom immediately after Chanukah
based on the precept of "Yehuda sholach lefonov."
The roshei yeshivos said only top avreichim from the
Torah and yeshiva world would be selected for the
kollel, which will offer excellent terms to allow them
to labor and settle in "the tent of Torah" without having to
worry about housing or income. The kollel will even
offer periodic shiurim on a regular basis given by
prominent roshei yeshivos making an extra effort to raise the
banner of Torah in Yeruchom as part of the plan to help solve
the housing crisis among bnei Torah.
During the meeting the rabbonim discussed the possibility of
setting up a major foundation through the generosity of
yirei Shomayim contributors from abroad to assist
avreichim to purchase homes in the least expensive
housing project available, the one in Yeruchom.
According to Binyan Sholem the roshei yeshivos will soon
begin locating avreichim who will be carefully
screened for the kollel in Yeruchom, calling this a
first step in expanding the Torah community in the town and
turning it into a large center for ruchniyus.
The Negev Region is currently slated for an impressive
development boom. The government is allocating extensive
resources to make the South flourish. By Chanukah, Israel
Railways will reach the nearby town of Dimona and Highway 6
will reach as far as Beit Kama, bringing the Central Region
much closer.
Development plans include the construction of software houses
and high-tech companies, which will employ kollel
wives at high salaries, tourism infrastructures including a
hotel and convention hall, upgrading the artificial lake,
widening roads, etc.
Following its successful bid for the construction franchise
in the new part of Yeruchom, Binyan Sholem heads have decided
to expand registration for the Naot Ha'irusim project.
