The community surrounding the Yesodot Shul in Kiryat Herzog in Bnei Brak was involved with a violent fight with the landlord who owns the land upon which the shul lies.

According to a Kikar Shabbos report, members of the community got into a physical altercation with the landlords. The Shul in question belongs to the Yesodot group of shuls and is under the auspices of Rav Shlomo Lifschitz.

The members of this particular Shul rented the land more than three years ago. When the lease was up, the community members were asked if they wanted to renew the contract, but were told that the rental fee will rise.

Community leaders refused to pay the higher amount of money offered to them in order to solidify new contract. The point of contention came after the community members built on the empty lot a brand new building for the shul.

While the two sides have been arguing for months, on Friday, the confrontation turned ugly when the owner of the land became violent and began a fracas that resulted in physical violence.

One of the community members who was attacked, chose to file a formal complaint with the police. The struggle which had been a private community matter, became the “talk-of-the-town” throughout Shabbos in Kiryat Herzog.

Over the next few days, the community members are expected to hold a vigil and formal protest aimed at displaying their dislike of the “the Desecration of the holy” and protesting the physical confrontations that took place in the Shul last week.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)