"It meant a lot for us that the ambassador specifically chose the capital of chareidi Jewry for his first visit to a local authority in Israel"

Thomas Richard Nides, the new American ambassador to Israel, took a tour in Bnei Brak as the guest of Mayor Rabbi Avraham Rubinstein. Mayor Rubinstein, joined by MKs Meir Porush and Yitzhak Pindrus, presented the ambassador with the scope of the urban development and renewal that the mayor has made a priority — strengthening poorer neighborhoods and developing plans for an additional 3,000 housing units, laying the foundation for a light rail, and creating a new commercial and high-tech park.

A significant portion of the conversation between the mayor and the ambassador was about Covid, as Bnei Brak suffered early in the pandemic, generating headlines around the country and abroad. The city, however, managed to flatten the curve, and Bnei Brak also led with vaccines, becoming a model for other cities.

“I was very happy to host Mr. Nides, the ambassador of the malchus shel chesed,” said the mayor. “It meant a lot for us that the ambassador specifically chose the capital of chareidi Jewry for his first visit to a local authority in Israel. I stressed to him how important it is to us to preserve and strengthen the bond with diaspora Jewry, and with American Jewry in particular. We will continue to maintain close ties with world leaders and to serve as the model of a strong, forward-looking Torah city in Israel.”

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 891)