Minister Yitzchok Wasserlauf of the Otzma Yehudit party has made clear that he and his fellow party members will not back any initiative that would place the historic Tiferes Yisroel Shul under the control of groups who might choose to eliminate tefillos for the welfare of IDF soldiers from the services held there.
In a statement posted to social media, Waserlauf said, “I grew up in the Jewish Quarter of Yerushalayim, on the ruins of the historic Tiferes Yisroel Shul. Words cannot describe the emotion I felt when I first entered the restored synagogue building. In the government’s Yerushalayim decision, I, along with others, worked for the restoration and rehabilitation of this important shul.”
He went on to stress his opposition to a potential handover of the site’s administration to elements who may remove nationalistic prayers. “Now, some want to transfer its management to parties that might remove the prayer for the welfare of the State and the welfare of IDF soldiers. I will not support this, nor will my party leader, Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, and neither will any member of Otzma Yehudit.”
Earlier this week, cabinet discussions addressed the possible transfer of authority over the Tiferes Yisroel Shul in Yerushalayim’s Old City, a move that has sparked quiet yet growing concern.
According to insiders, the plan is being pushed forward with little resistance, framed as a response to current security concerns. The lack of public outcry is attributed to the fact that many who might oppose it are preoccupied—either directly engaged in military operations or bearing the brunt of the ongoing national crisis.
One high-ranking source denounced the initiative, calling it “a cynical exploitation of the situation.” He added, “Our children are being killed in Gaza right now, and there are those who choose to seize more and more spiritual and physical assets and hand them over to chareidi hands. It is absurd that during this entire war, with the funerals of our children, and the economic situation in the economy, the government finds time to make decisions on a single shul in Yerushalayim, important as it may be. We will fight this decision.”
{Matzav.com Israel}