Jerusalem's Bikur Cholim hospital battle puts city's pluralism to the test
“If the hassidim take control of the eastern building, it will no longer be open to the public, and the gate will be locked,” warned Jerusalem's Deputy Mayor Yosef Havilio.
🗞️ In-depth summary
Deputy Mayor Yosef Havilio partially succeeded in preventing the allocation of Jerusalem's historic Bikur Cholim hospital's eastern building to a Haredi seminary. The hospital, established in 1925 and closed in 2020, became a focal point in a dispute over the city center's accessibility to all residents.
- The municipality initially approved plans for a seminary for 1,000 Haredi girls in the eastern building, sparking opposition from liberal Jerusalemites.
- Havilio argued the mayor's plan was illegal and would shift the boundary between Haredi and non-Haredi areas, impacting liberal projects and Shabbat-open businesses. He stated, “This is a historic mistake.”
- A compromise was reached, allowing 250-300 Haredi teenage girls to occupy the western building instead, with strict separation from boys already studying there.
- Havilio warned that if the Haredim controlled the eastern building, it would be closed to the public, emphasizing, “the gate will be locked.”
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This story is based on reporting by The Jerusalem Post.
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