City Attempts To Destroy New Shul

The Chabad community in Ramat Bet Shemeseh Gimmel in Israel has over 50 families and has been davening in the living room of R’ Yitzchak Rosenblum and R’ Binyamin Mendelson’s house for the past 18 months.

Ramat Beit Shemesh is a large neighborhood of Beit Shemesh, Israel, located west of Jerusalem. It has a large, diverse Orthodox population.

Local residents submitted a request to receive a plot of land from the city over 15 months ago to build a Shul, however they received no reply, community members said.

After seeing 12 other shuls in the neighborhood being established on city land without permission, the decision to build a Shul was made by determined residents.

On Thursday night, the Shul was erected by members of the community, working with their bare hands throughout the night.

On Friday afternoon, a few hours before Shabbos, while they were installing the air conditioning units, a city tractor came to destroy the shul. Hundreds came out to protect the Shul, and succeeded in sending the tractor away without having harmed the Shul.

On Shabbos there was an incredible feeling in the air, with over a hundred people packing in the tiny shul to daven and farbreng.

The community has set up 24/7 Davening, learning, and protection for the Shul.

“There is no way that we will stand for the city to allow 12 other shuls to be established on city land and make problems specifically for Chabad!” said one Shul member.

On Sunday, the head Shliach of Bet Shemesh, Rabbi Eliezer Vayner, visited the Shul and called on all Shluchim around the world to support the struggling congregation.

Donations to help the community may be sent to Beis Menachem Ramat Bet Shemesh Gimmel, Bank Hapoalim, Branch 12, Account: 94552.