There is controversy surrounding the continued opening of the swimming pool in Kiryat Arba. It appears the pool is running a deficit, in part due to following instructions from rabbonim to religious residents to refrain from renewing season memberships. The rabbonim are using this tactic to combat plans to offer mixed swimming while since opening, the pool has been for separate swimming only. The matter seems to have divided the secular and religious residents of Kiryat Arba.

According to the report in Yediot Achronot, last week the directors of the Kiryat Arba community center, the body operating the pool, sent a breakdown of the budget deficit which amounts to NIS 300,000. Due to the debt, the community center announced it can no longer sustain the pool’s operation. Sources in the community center explained that the deficit stemmed in part from rabbis’ instructions to residents not to renew their membership.

Until about a year ago, a total separation of hours between men and women took place in the pool. The secular residents, who make up almost one-third of Kiryat Arba’s population, petitioned the High Court of Justice and ordered the opening of the site for “family hours,” in which mixed swimming will take place.

Kiryat Arba’s Mayor, Malachi Levinger, held a meeting on Monday, 26 Tammuz, attended by representatives of the secular residents and told them all options are being weighed regarding the pool. One option is to shut down the pool due to the financial situation. The other option is to find another operator for the pool.

One of the leaders of the battle on behalf of secular residents is quoted telling Yediot Achronot, “At present, we do not know what will be. We must review the numbers and check. We know there was a similar deficit in previous years. We will decide down the line. We do know with certainty however that the previous situation that does not permit family swimming will not return, and we hope the pool will not close”.

Yediot Achronot noted that the struggle over the pool is being waged in the background of local elections. Levinger, head of the municipality, is trying to unify the city and opened the pool for mixed swimming following the High Court of Justice ruling but has been criticized by the Torani residents of the city. It appears the battle by the secular community is political, immediately before elections”.

YWN-Israel reported Rishon L’Tzion HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Yosef Shlita sent a letter to Levinger last month, in which he calls on him not to change the status quo and to prevent mixed swimming in the city.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)