Complaint: Jerusalem Municipality is working against leaving religion

At the last council meeting of the Jerusalem Municipality, members approved a budget of NIS 490 000 for funding a dropout prevention program for girl students in middle and high school.

Leftist municipality members demanded to cancel the approval of the budget as part of the budget is supposed to go for the organization 'Orot Pnima', designed to prevent youth from becoming irreligious.

The explanatory words of the budget approval state: "The program comes up in response to religious high schools and Ulpanot across the country, where students who finished high school leave religion or its meaning and vitality."

Member of the opposition, Meir Turgeman, launched a letter to the mayor, Nir Barkat, on Sunday where he demands to cancel the approval of the budget.

"It stems from the petition ... that the purpose of buying the service, and purpose of the program is to prevent leaving religion," writes Yossi Havilio in his name. "He argues that it is not the role of the municipality and beyond municipal authority to activate or fund a program designed to prevent leaving religion."

Attorney Havilio relies in his letter on judgments from which it can be learned that it is not the municipality's legal authority to act in this way. "In view of the above you are required to inform that the Council's decision shall be canceled and in any case at this time and until a detailed response to my letter is provided, freeze the transfer of funds." He also notes that if he does not receive the detailed answer within one week, the councilor, Meir Turgeman will allow himself to turn to legal proceedings.

The municipality said in response to Behadrey Haredim: "The hareidi educational council does not deal with Tshuva. The program aims to strengthen and empower students who are having trouble with achievements and studies, and prevention of their dropping out of the educational framework in which they are. "

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!