When making preparations for the initial design, our architect contacted the local licensing authorities. The municipal engineer informed us in stark terms, “We will never grant you a permit”. Following a mere twenty minutes after we presented our case to the licensing authority, a beaming municipal engineer walked out of the room with his hand outstretched and announced, “Congratulations, we have granted you the permit”.

The Orthodox community, led by the semi-governmental organisation Yad Le’Achim immediately began to pressure the municipality, which in turn sought to impose on us wholly unacceptable terms which were geared to restrict the use of the building. For example, they wished us to undertake “never to pray” in the building. Naturally, we refused such demands on the grounds that they were illegal, undemocratic and wholly inconsistent with the democratic nature of the State of Israel. Faced with our firm stand, the municipality informed Yad Le’Achim that we were wholly within our rights and that the permit will not be revoked.

In response Yad Le’Achim pressed charges against both us and the licensing authority and, when our permit was upheld by the district court, appealed to Israel’s Supreme Court. They lost again. Now, having been anxious to work against the establishment of a precedent by the construction of our building, the Orthodox have themselves been used of God to create a legal precedent that will open the way for other congregations to follow in our train.

You can enter into partnership with us, enabling us to carry on our work – or expand it! Already we have been instrumental in establishing a congregation in a nearby city, and are considering further such endeavors.