The storage tanks in Haifa are in a disgraceful state and no one cares

In Haifa there are about 40 Geniza tanks scattered throughout the city. In these ganiza containers, residents are allowed to throw away holy objects, such as torn tefillin, Torah scrolls, leaflets washed in history and the Shavuot portion, and other sacred objects. For most of the residents, these are special and sacred objects that cannot be thrown into the normal garbage cans. For many of them it is a matter of honor and sanctity. Unfortunately for the residents of the city, despite the many appeals to the responsible parties, the condition of the garbage containers is shameful, and there is no change in their condition.

"For several years now I have been following the state of the Geniza containers," says one of the residents, "as a Jew, the thought that this is what is happening to sacred things shocks me. Compared to other cities, in Haifa the person responsible for the issue is the sanitation department. In other cities, the person who handles it is the religious council In light of the fact that sanitation handles the issue, the containers are not respected.

Put them on the street next to a garbage can. The neighborhood committee in the new Romema neighborhood asked to place a Geniza tank. The synagogue received a ganiza container near the bus stop on Oren Street, next to it is a regular trash can. I myself moved away from the storage tank, and again and again they brought it back. In the end, they fixed the trash can next to the garbage container. You see it not only in the Geniza tank in Romme. Almost all the storage tanks are under power lines, and birds defecate on the storage tank, and dogs also defecate next to it."

"In Beit Shean, for example, there are 5 containers that are concentrated near the religious council," says the resident, "as long as it is not placed on the street next to garbage cans and under power lines, it is much better. This container is also very similar to a container for recycling clothes, and not everyone understands What is his purpose anyway."

״For three years I have been cleaning the garbage can on Herzl Street once a month״

"The tank that represents the disgrace in the city is on Herzl Street, in front of the Maccabi Health Insurance Fund," he explains painfully. "The tank is filled with bird droppings because it is under the power lines of an electricity company. Once a month I go and clean the tank myself. I repeatedly contacted the public, and I received a reply that my request was being handled. I took a gardener's telescopic pole and began to lower branches above the storage tank. Part I managed to take it down, and some were too high. There is always garbage near the tank, especially in some enclosed garden next to it.

Cat feeders put food for cats. Municipal employees cannot come to clean because it is a closed garden next to the garbage tank. On the container there are advertisements for Netiv Ha'Shesed, Optica, etc. It's not supposed to be a bulletin board, it's a sacred thing. In the upper part of the container there are two openings, in which you can put what you need. There were covers for both openings, but both covers were broken. The municipality does not want to replace it. That is, there is bird droppings, cat food around, and there are advertisements on the container. Once a month I go and clean the storage tank for the past three years."

"I feel like I'm alone in this matter," he adds, "I come to the container in Herzl once a month and see that no one has cleaned it. There is another Geniza container in Kiryat Eliezer, which regularly has a dog that defecates there. I come there once a month, and there is no way That I get there and I don't see dog excrement. There is also a Ganiza container on Sderot Sinai, which has dog excrement around it."

"It is not possible for people to put clothes and bags of garbage in a garbage container״

"There is a container on IDF Street in Kiryat Eliezer, and people regularly put clothes in it. I went to a printing house, made a beautiful and elaborate sign in Russian, which explains that this is a Geniza tank. I knew there was no way anyone from sanitation would read it or download it. I understand why people put clothes there - the container is really very similar."

"In Kiryat Eliezer there is another trash can located in front of the shopping center. One day I saw that it was full of flies and mosquitoes. I opened the trash can and saw that the whole bin was full of garbage. I called sanitation, and one of the workers came. He started taking garbage bags out of there, and finally he called another worker Together they emptied the trash can. I told them to put the trash can near a synagogue. And he moved one of the ganiza containers near Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai synagogue, but again between two electricity poles, so again there is bird droppings on it."

The resident does not ignore the fact that there are several storage tanks in better condition. "There are a few individual containers that are on the premises of a synagogue and are relatively respected. For example, at the end of Hess Street and Einstein Street. Everything else, which is on the street, is simply a disgrace."

"The storage containers have no mother and no father, I feel that only I care"

"I went to the city council meeting about six months ago. I wanted to find someone to help me, and I was unable to make any progress with it. I asked the city hall for the telephone number of the director of sanitation. They made an appointment with me, but when I arrived it turned out that the appointment was canceled, and they didn't even bother to inform me. The Geniza containers have no father and mother , they are simply promiscuous on the street. Again and again I try to interest people in the subject, and people do not come back to me and show no interest in the subject."

"There is an external contractor who is supposed to clean the ganiza containers. I am constantly in contact on WhatsApp with the contractor, and I tell him where there is a full ganiza container and ask him to empty it, and he sends workers and evacuates. I am unable to think of a situation where Torah words are on the floor. Especially the thought that might As a Jew, I can't handle it raining on the words of the Torah."

The municipality's response will be attached to the article, when received.