Regime Threatens to Change the Name of 30-Year-Old Har Nof – Residents’ Desires Will Supposedly Be ‘Taken Into Consideration’…

Har Nof Residents Furious With City Hall’s Decision to Change the Name to “Neot Yosef”

It appears many, if not most Har Nof residents are less than pleased with the decision by Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Leon to change the name of the neighborhood to Neot Yosef, in memory of Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef ZT”L and Maran HaGaon HaRav Yosef Sholom Elyashiv ZT”L, as reported by YWN-Israel. Residents insist they were not consulted, and the mayor acted on his own. Many are displeased with his decision.

“There was no discussion with the residents about the name of Har Nof. We were not notified directly – we first read about it in the general media yesterday,” said Har Nof resident Michal Steinberger. “It is unacceptable for anyone to change the name of our neighborhood without consulting with us. We can offer [names] and permit residents to vote on it, all the residents, and what is decided by residents will determine the outcome. There is no committee, mayor or residents’ representative since there are no such entities in Har Nof.”

Residents are calling on Mayor Leon to reverse the decision, MyNet reports, as many residents are pleased with the current name, asking why not Neot Yisrael after the Chafetz Chaim, or one of many other prominent important rabbonim they question.

The announced planned name change only adds to the anger and exacerbation of residents, as they claim they are currently living under siege due to simultaneous construction on Kanfei Nesharim Street for the Jerusalem light rail and construction on Route 16 by the Jerusalem Forest side of the neighborhood. This has effectively shut down primary entrances and exits to and from the community, leaving an untenable traffic situation.

City Hall explains, “The decision was made after lengthy discussions and with public representatives from the neighborhood. Even after the mayor’s intention to change the name of the neighborhood was published, many positive reactions were received from neighborhood residents who view it a great privilege in changing the name of the community after two prominent spiritual giants, who worked in Jerusalem and contributed greatly to it. In any case, after a discussion of the Names Committee, residents will be given a period of time to express their views and this will be taken into consideration.”

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From Yeshiva World News, here.