The Rav's Sukkah

A victory for the Shuvu Banim community: The court rejected a petition from its opponents against the construction of the Chassidus's (Chassidic group) central Sukkah (a temporary dwelling for the Sukkot holiday). Attorney Ben Gvir stated: "The law for Breslov Chassidus is the same as the law for Belz, Gur, Vizhnitz, and all other Chassidic groups!"

The Magistrate's Court rejected the petition filed against the construction of the Shuvu Banim community's Sukkah and overturned the temporary injunction it had issued two days ago.

As recalled, a neighbor belonging to the Neturei Karta (an extremist anti-Zionist sect) petitioned the court, claiming that the large Sukkah of the Chassidus causes noise and dirt and harms her children who require medical treatment. In response, Attorney Ben Gvir arrived at court with maps proving that maximum efforts were made not to disturb the family, including stationing ushers, maintaining an access route, and obtaining various permits for the Sukkah's construction.

The municipality representative, Attorney Chaim Nargasi, was also summoned to the hearing and confirmed that the municipality allows the construction of Sukkahs for all Chassidic groups and did not see fit to discriminate against Shuvu Banim.

Attorney Ben Gvir told the judge that the background behind the request is the hatred of a very extremist faction toward Sephardim (Jews of Middle Eastern or North African descent) and Ba'alei Teshuvah (those who have returned to religious observance), and emphasized that the law for the Shuvu Banim Chassidus is the same as for the Gur, Belz, Boyan, and Karlin Chassidic groups.

Judge Mika Banki accepted Attorney Ben Gvir's arguments and overturned the injunction. However, in light of the court's recommendations, it was agreed that the Sukkah would be shortened by a few meters so as not to disturb the peace of the Neturei Karta family.

Attorney Itamar Ben Gvir stated: "We are happy that the court accepted our arguments, recommended that the petitioner withdraw her request, and forbade discriminating against this community compared to other communities. This is especially significant since those behind the petitioners are motivated by racism and do not want Sephardim and Ba'alei Teshuvah (penitents) to reside in the neighborhood. Just as they tried to remove them from the central synagogue in the neighborhood and we succeeded in preventing them, we have also succeeded in obtaining court approval so they can build a Sukkah just like all the other Chassidic groups."