Jerusalem City Hall officials recently contacted officials at the Tower of David (Migdal David) Museum in Jerusalem’s Old City seeking permission to use the complex to host affairs. The only problem is the price. The museum is asking 200,000 NIS for renting the complex, which does not include catering, music or other expenses. City Hall quickly dropped the ideas due to the prohibitive costs involved.

Maariv quotes Jerusalem Councilman Elisha Peleg’s angry response, for he accuses the museum of discriminating against anyone other than the extremely wealthy, questing the justification for the price.

Museum officials released a statement of clarification explaining the amount quoted is the maximum but in actuality, it can be significantly less expensive, stating if one wishes to rent a hall during off hours the fee might be 1,000 NIS. However, one wishing to have the museum shut down for the day, that would be quite expensive.

The museum’s official explain that if on an average night there are 1,000 visitors paying 50 NIS a ticket, this would already represent a loss of 50,000 NIS. There are also exorbitant charges involved in cleaning the complex following a major private event, which often includes “300,000 NIS in flowers”, seeking to paint a picture of the magnitude of the cleaning operation.

“While the pricing may not appear economically friendly for many, we must live with our budgetary realities” explains one official.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)