Hod Hasharon residents upset about large synagogue

The residents fought for 10 years against the idea of any synagogue being built in the area.

By MIRIAM BULWAR DAVID-HAY (TRANSLATED)
tel aviv muni 224 (photo credit: IDF (DO NOT USE))
tel aviv muni 224
(photo credit: IDF (DO NOT USE))
Residents of one Hod Hasharon neighborhood are up in arms over a synagogue currently being built in their neighborhood that they say is shaping up as three times larger than authorized, reports www.local.co.il. The residents fought for 10 years against the idea of any synagogue being built in the area, but after losing that battle are now outraged that the building currently under construction seems to be significantly bigger than approved, and they say it looks as though a reception center of some kind is being built at the site. According to the report, residents of Rehov Hagibor and surrounding areas were dismayed to discover that the synagogue committee recently requested approval for 269 square meters of built-up area, despite the fact that several months ago synagogue and residents' representatives agreed on - and the city approved - a building plan for just 170 square meters. The report said residents discovered the revised request only now that building work has begun and they can see that the basement, which was supposed to be 50 square meters, has stretched to 174 square meters. In a letter to Mayor Hai Adiv, the residents' action committee asked for an end to be put to the "fiasco." The residents said they would use every means at their disposal to fight against the expanded plans, and asked why the city was not supervising the matter more closely. In response, a municipal spokesman said the building work was taking place "in accordance with the permit" and the city was conducting daily visits to the site to ensure that work was proceeding properly. The spokesman said that while some changes from the original plans had been made to the foundations of the building, the city engineer had declared that there would no changes visible above ground.