J'lem Space Week canceled following Haredi objections
Planned lectures in Mahane Yehuda Market bars for int'l Space Week in the capital were canceled after ultra-Orthodox councilman objects to non-kosher venues; following intervention from J'lem deputy mayor, Minister Akunis reinstates events.
Yohanan Weizmann, a Jerusalem city councilman from United Torah Judaism, contacted Minister of Space and Technology Ofir Akunis and the ministry's Director-General Peretz Vazan demanding the Mahane Yehuda event be canceled immediately since "two of the areas chosen for the activity will host stores, one of which sells treif and chametz during Passover, while the others are not kosher. In addition, most of the venues don't possess a full business license."
Weizmann further stated the businesses' activities in the famed Jerusalem Shuk harmed residents and neighbors' quality of life and brought about "promiscuity and crime."
Akunis and Vazan acceded to the demand and the event was indeed canceled.
The Casino de Paris bar, where the event was set to take place, holds no kashrut certificate despite only serving dairy-based food. Furthermore, bars in Tel Aviv, Haifa and Be'er Sheva that will also serve as venues for Space Week events are not kosher either, but their schedule remained unchanged.
After the cancelation was made public, Deputy Mayor Ofer Berkovitch (Wake Up Jerusalem) contacted Akunis and asked him to reinstate the events as planned.
"This isn't the first time Haredi representatives attempted to hurt the shuk. I contacted the minister of science and his director-general, who told me the events at the Mahane Yehuda Market will take place as planned, despite objections. I thank the minister and call on the Jerusalem public to visit the shuk for Space Week event," Berkovitch said.
The Israel Space Agency (ISA) at the Ministry of Science said events will take place as planned, but in another venue to be determined—and announced—shortly. The Ministry of Science declined comment on the reason behind the original cancelation.
World Space Week, which is observed annually all over the world in the beginning of October, is led in Israel by the ISA. Space Week was instated by the United Nations and is dedicated to celebrating the presence of space in our lives and man's achievements in exploring it.
As part of Space Week, each year several bars across the country host talks about the solar system, the Milky Way galaxy and other celestial bodies. Attendees of Space Week events are also able to physically observe space using telescopes put up on the premises.
"We regret the path of incitement certain controversial elements in Jerusalem have decided to take. I have nothing against events celebrating science and culture, and all I asked was to divert public governmental resources to law-abiding businesses, and to also take into account the best interests of residents of neighborhoods near the market," commented Councilman Weizmann.
MK Rachel Azaria (Kulanu), former Jerusalem deputy mayor and a resident of the city, weighed in on the controversy as well. "We were informed Space Week in Jerusalem was canceled following pressure from a Haredi council member, while many in the ultra-Orthodox populace, by the way, object to the cancelation," she said.
"Despite the Ministry of Science's claims, a new date has yet to be made public. Jerusalem is a city with an extremely heterogeneous population and despite complexities we've proven we can live together and manufacture a space with enough room for everyone," Azaria added.
"It's unthinkable for the absolute majority of the capital's residents to miss out on Space Week due to an extreme minority not indicative of anyone. It's a shame a Jerusalem protest was necessary for this event to take place as it should have. I hope the Ministry of Space remains true to its word and Jerusalem can enjoy a spectacular Space Week," the Jerusalemite MK concluded.
