Holon, situated on the central coastal strip of Israel, 6 miles southeast of Tel Aviv, has a population of ~200,000 residents, the majority of whom are Jewish. There are ~85 synagogues in Holon and all of them are Orthodox, built on public property.

Of Holon’s residents, 200 family units are currently members of the Reform Jewish congregation in Holon, congregation Kodesh VeChol. Since our establishment in 2010, we have been praying and celebrating holidays in various locations and venues, none of which have provided the stable, worthy home we seek. Our need for a synagogue and a community center continually increases as our community is rapidly expanding.

In 2014, representatives of Kodesh VeChol submitted an official request, asking the city of Holon to allocate land where we can build our community center and synagogue. The Ultra-Orthodox and religious parties in the Holon City Hall objected and, as a result, severely hindered our progress for seven long years. We had no other option but to fight and take the city to court.

On November 15^th, 2020, the court decided in Kodesh VeChol's favor and assigned a judicial verdict ordering the city of Holon to allocate land for building our community center. Our congregation's representatives met with the city architect, engineer, and legal department. We hired architects who offered an initial plan for our multifunctional, green, and accessible community center.

Following a series of meetings with the city’s officials, Kodesh VeChol representatives were assured of Holon’s commitment to making our dream a reality. The city then proceeded to offer us two other options for our land allocation and community center, different from the ones initially promised:

1. The city will allocate a smaller area than initially agreed. On it, we will be allowed to independently build our community center and synagogue immediately.

2. The city will build a large campus, rendering various public services (early childhood center, public medical clinic, senior citizen and youth clubs, and more) on double the land initially allocated to us. A portion of this campus will cater to our community's needs and requirements.

We find the latter option exceptionally ground-breaking and exciting as it guarantees that our center will be well incorporated into the city’s fabric. Presently, we are awaiting answers from the legal and engineering departments to see how we can make option two legally binding.

In light of the upcoming local elections for city hall, it is pivotal that we stay true to our goal and continue to push through the endless red tape and local politics. We are adamant about making this revolutionary dream a reality.

 

Image Illustration created by Finkelstein and Klughaft Architectures