As you know, the building of the second floor of the Museum of Babylonian Jewry has been delayed for some time only due to difficulties in transferring the money allotted for this purpose.
On July 11, 1995 this problem was raised for discussion in the Knesset finance committee, this being a result of apoint of order raised by M.K David Mena. At the same discussion, the problem was also raised with regard to the Yehude Mosul house in Tirat Hacarmel which is a building that was begun but construction halted due to a freeze intransferring moneys promised for the project.
All of the participants in the meeting praised work of the Babylonian Jewry Heritage Center and emphasized the importance of maintaining the heritage of the various ethnic communities that make up Israeli society. MK David Mena noted that this is one of the most worthy institutions in the State of Israel. Dr. Shimshon Shoshani, MD of the ministry of education praised the teaching in the museum as an example to be followed and noted that the ministry of education often sends students there to study.
Professor Avner Shaki, a member of the Finance Committee, gave a lecture on the importance of preserving ones roots. He noted that communities that came out of Europe organized themselves very well over the years and established institutions to preserve their heritage whereas the immigrants from the eastern countries have only recently begun to search for their origins and roots. Any one who has no past has no future. Moreover the greatest work of the Jewish people of all time, after the Bible, is the Babylonian Talmud which was produced by the Jews of Babylonia which continued throughout the period of the Amoraim, the Savoraim and the Geonim and which represented the most golden age in the history of the Jewish people.
Government support for such an institute should not be a duty but the fact that such an institute exists should be a source of pride to the government. Above all, in order that the Israeli in a generation or two can identify himself with his past and roots it is essential that there be a balance between the heritage of the East and West.
MK Ariel Weinstein spoke of the obligation of Israeli society to those immigrants from what he called "deprived lands", who upon their emigration here were coerced to forget their past and to become "Israeli" with khaki clothing and "kova tembel" and dance the "hora", a situation which led to confusion and crises that until today istaking a toll on the Israeli society. Therefore, he added, when he visited the "Center" he was very impressed and found a place worthy of sending visitors and researchers to visit. Mr. Mordecai Ben-Porat, the founder and the person bearing the burden of running the "Center" was singled out for much praise. MK Ovadia Eli praised his endless dedication and the singleness of his purpose and the seriousness he devotes to this work. Professor Shaki described him as "crazy on the matter" and said that no great work occurs unless there is someone who is so "crazy".
Following the words of praise and compliments, the committee went on to discuss the matter they called the meeting for: how to solve the problem of the delay of the funds promised to the Babylonian Jewry Heritage Center. MK David Mena who raised the issue defined the problem:
We are talking about a sum of 1.4 million shekel that the ministry of interior and the ministry of housing promised to transfer to the municipality of Or Yehuda to finance two thirds of the cost of the building where Or Yehuda promised to finance the remaining third.
The contract for performing the work was passed on to the Ministry of Housing to the Or Yehuda municipality, the details were approved by the relevant committees in the Ministry of Interior and Housing and the matter approved by the new Minister of Housing (Ben Eliezer). Despite theagreement, despite the budgeting and despite all the commitments the money was not transferred.
The problem in transferring the money as explained by MK Dan Tichon, is that the State Comptroller voided thetransfer of money by means of the Ministry of Housing and therefore another source, within the government had to be found to transfer the money.
All participants in the discussion, and it should be noted that the entire political spectrum of Israeli politics was represented, were united in their demand that a solution must be found for this problem and that continued delay was not acceptable. Others could not help but note that other institutions had been faced by the same problem by the State Comptroller and that solutions had been found among them: Palmach house, Yigal Alon house, the Galili Institute. Even the Israel Opera, was allocated funds far in excess of those granted to the Babylonian Jewry Heritage Center. And thus only the actual problem of how to transfer the money to the proper authorities.
In the course of the discussions, an idea was formed to transfer the money from the Ministry of Housing to the Ministry of Education and from there to the building. However, this solution is not simple as noted by Dr. Shoshany MD of the Ministry of Education as the Ministry of housing is responsible for putting up public buildings and the Ministry of Education for funding cultural activities. He pointed out however that if his Ministry was given development budgets for building cultural institutions he was prepared to handle it as he had the necessary administration and excellent criteria for doing so.
MK Dan Tichon suggested consulting with the Minister of Education and Minister of Culture and to tell them to prepare the necessary tools for transferring the money via their offices.
MK Shamay also supported the suggestion of Dan Tichon and added that if the matter was not implemented he would suggest inviting the two above referenced Ministers for an urgent meeting in 2-4 weeks time in order to find an immediate solution.
MK Ariel Weinstein also supported this suggestion and called for the Chairman of the finance committee, MK Gedalya Gal, to note the position of the members of the committee in a very clear manner and to act rapidly. The Chairman raised a summarizing motion: to transfer the matter of Babylonian Jewry Heritage Center to the hands of the Ministry of Education, both for the building as well as maintenance and added that he will suggest regarding the encouragement of ethnic traditions as a national value. He would even recommend that moneys be allocated from the 1996 budget for this purpose in order to strengthen the existing budgets that are found in various ministries.
The Chairman summarized the meeting by saying that he would be prepared to work on a proposal and bring it to fruition and to see to it that the money was transferred forthwith.
Participants in the meeting expressed satisfaction with the summary and noted that if the Chairman has taken it upon himself to handle the matter, they rely upon him to do so.
In parallel with the meeting of the committee, Minister Moshe Shahal and MK Raanan Cohen are working with the Minister of Finance to find a rapid manner of transferring the money so that the work on the building can begin immediately.