Yerushalayim…The International Committee for Har Hazeisim has appointed Shalom Lerner as its new Director. Mr. Lerner, a long-time member of the City Council of Bet Shemesh, who also served as its deputy mayor, was educated at Yeshiva Ner Israel in Baltimore and at Yeshiva Itri in Yerushalayim. Mr. Lerner’s grandfather Shalom, for whom he is named, is buried on Har Hazeisim. The elder Rabbi Lerner was a prominent rav and head of the shochtim in pre-war Antwerp. Both of his parents are also buried on Har Hazeisim.
In making the announcement of the appointment, Avraham Lubinsky, the founding co-chairman of the ICHH, called it a move that could not have come at a more crucial time in the 3000-year history of the holiest cemetery of the Jewish people. He said: “It took us more than a decade to put an end to the national shame of desecration, defilement and violence and to bring security to this hallowed site with its 150,000 neshamos dating back to the nevi’im. The time has come to have someone of Shalom Lerner’s caliber who will be on the ground there to assure that we never move back to the days of stonings and insecurity.” Avraham’s brother Menachem, who co-chairs the ICHH, said that Mr. Lerner completed a successful round of meetings with leading Knesset members.
Amongst the many meetings Mr. Lerner has already had with Knesset members and officials of the Municipality, was MK Michael Malchieli who serves as the head of the Caucus on Har Hazeisim, which made history several years ago when at its founding it became the largest wall-to-wall caucus in the history of the Knesset,
In accepting the position, Mr. Lerner said: “I intend to use every contact I have made in government service to convince the political and security establishment of the national priority of securing Har Hazeisim.” The new director of Har Hazeisim added: “I am particularly looking forward to history being made on Har Hazeisim this year as the ICHH joins with the government and the municipality in the construction of a historic Visitor Education Center, perhaps the first major construction facing the Har Habayis since the churban bais hamikdash. The Center will include a permanent police station which will further strengthen security on the mountain.
