Weekly Update 21

January 17, 2025

Hello, everyone.

• Updates regarding previous inquiries:

1) Inquiry to the State Comptroller regarding the appointment of the council’s security officer.

2) Construction of an event hall adjacent to the Great Synagogue

• Important information regarding scholarships for youth and students who are residents of the community.
• A Place in the Heart
• Please note: Based on information you have provided, it appears that the enforcement department has begun issuing parking tickets even within neighborhoods to vehicles parked on sidewalks and in red-and-white zones, including on streets with a parking shortage. Based on our review, the tickets are being issued in accordance with the law, so please park only in permitted areas.

First Topic: Two Updates on Inquiries I Made to External Authorities

Those who have been following the newsletters I began writing in August, shortly after joining the council (I replaced Ziv Deshe), have noticed that as part of my role (which is voluntary), I do not limit myself to working solely with the council but also reach out to various external entities – through letters requesting that they examine and investigate issues I’ve identified in the work of the council chair, as well as in the work of those who were supposed to protect the public interest but apparently fell asleep on the job again—the treasurer and the legal advisor, both residents of Zichron Ya’acov who already worked with Abutbul during his previous term.

I would like to provide an update on the progress of the inquiries I have already made and reported on in the newsletter:

The process of appointing the council’s security officer—following the inquiry submitted to the State Comptroller regarding concerns of improper administration in the appointment process of the council’s security officer, Mr. Sahar Lipshitz. I would like to remind you that he served as the paid campaign manager for the council head. According to guidelines published by the Deputy Attorney General: a council head is prohibited from appointing campaign activists or staff members to the council. To the best of our knowledge, the State Comptroller’s Office is continuing its investigation of the complaint.

Construction of an open-air event hall (public open space) adjacent to the Ohel Yaakov Synagogue, which is a national heritage site—the Council for the Preservation of Sites, to which I also wrote in one of the letters I sent regarding this serious matter—very senior representatives from this body contacted me and requested all relevant materials. I was told that both the Council for the Preservation of Sites and the Haifa District Planning and Construction Committee have strongly opposed such a plan in the past, and I believe they will oppose it this time as well.

Second issue: Scholarships for young people. Currently, there are several scholarship programs in the community:

1. Rotary scholarships, part of whose budget also comes from the local authority (the Rotary branch also raises donations from other sources), and the amount can of course be increased by a decision of us, the council members. The Rotary Club publicizes the application deadlines and submission procedures to the public. The application process for 2025 has concluded

2. Mifal HaPais Scholarships – The Council joined this initiative approximately five years ago, led by former Council Head Ziv Deshe. In recent years, we have reached 80 scholarships!!!

For those who are unaware, 50% of the scholarship funds come from the Pais Foundation, and the additional 50% come from the “Amot Midah” budget allocated to the local authority for various uses—which is also drawn from the Pais Foundation’s funds earmarked specifically for the authority. In other words, the former council head decided this was a priority issue, so the total number of scholarships has risen steadily, and the financial allocation for scholarships from the local authority’s share of the Pais Fund stands at approximately 400,000 NIS per year (in addition to the amount allocated directly from the Pais Fund). The scholarship management system was led with great success by Omer Gendler, the director of the Youth Center, who has since resigned.

3. Breakthrough Youth Scholarships – A project launched in collaboration with the Rotary Club about two years ago; the budget is raised through donations via the Rotary Club. The scholarship is awarded to youth who have achieved exceptional accomplishments in their fields (currently, the total scholarship amount for each recipient is 4,000 NIS), and here too, thanks are due to Omer Gendler, the former director of the Youth Center (see the previous newsletter). Omer took it upon himself to assist in managing the initiative and the project due to a staffing shortage and to handle an area that was not under his direct responsibility.

I think these are excellent scholarship programs—non-political and managed in an equitable and professional manner—and I hope they will continue to be run this way. We will keep an eye on this.

A third joyful topic concerns “A Place in the Heart.”

This activity center for young families and early childhood was part of the outgoing council’s vision to provide services for children starting from birth. The vision was led by Council Head Ziv Deshe and Council Member Maskit Laufer, together with the Education Department and a forum of parents and professionals from the community. The center is part of a comprehensive initiative focused on the municipality taking responsibility for services for children from birth to age 3 in all matters related to supervision, guidance, and support, including the upgrade of the Poah Daycare Center under the management of the Education Department, and more.

“Mekom Balev” is located on Wingate Street and offers a wonderful variety of recreational activities, gatherings, and tailored programs, all led by the Education Department.

We welcome the fact that the council administration continues to operate and nurture “Mekom Balev.”

Fourth issue: To avoid getting parking tickets, please make sure to park legally. This applies even near your home and even if you’re used to parking there and haven’t received a ticket in the past.

Based on information you have shared with us, it appears that the Enforcement Department has begun issuing parking tickets even within neighborhoods to vehicles parked on sidewalks and in red-and-white zones, including on streets with parking shortages. From our review, the tickets are being issued in accordance with the law, so please park only in permitted areas.

Yours,

Limor Zar Gutman

The “Lema’an HaMoshava” Party