H eadlines
ISRAELBRIEFS Tallest High-Rise Approved for Jerusalem
THE JERUSALEM LOCAL PLANNING and Building Committee
approved the 40-floor Marom Tower, which will become the city’s
tallest high-rise upon completion, Globes reported.

The building is part of the City Gateway (Sha’ar Ha’Ir) project.

It will be located adjacent to the new Jerusalem railway station,
central bus station and International Conference Center.

There will be 80,000-square-meters of office and commercial
space, as well as a hotel and conference facilities. The bottom eight
floors will feature a cultural center, art galleries and museum.

The tower is one of 20 to be built in the City Gateway project
at the city’s western entrance.

Beauty Pageant for Holocaust Survivors Returns
The Beauty Queen Competition for Holocaust Survivors returned
Nov. 16 at the Friends of Zion Museum in Jerusalem after a three-
year absence, The Jerusalem Post reported.

“This is the beautiful story of the state of Israel, of Israeli
society; it is our strength and success. Holocaust survivors are the
true heroines of us all and thanks to them, we are here today,” said
Shimon Sabag, CEO and founder of Yad Ezer LaHaber, an associ-
ation that assists needy Holocaust survivors. “Holocaust survivors
are the light that illuminates humanity when the world is dark.”
International model and TV presenter Moran Atias hosted
the event, and singer Rotem Cohen performed.

The program was broadcast online.

Supermarket Chain Sued for Secret Haredi Discounts
A lawsuit was filed against the Shufersal supermarket chain on Nov.

4 after Channel 12 reported that the chain was providing discounts
on a site for haredi shoppers, The Jerusalem Post reported.

Shufersal will discontinue the service on Nov. 15, Channel 12
reported. Channel 12’s “Tochnit Chisachon” (Saving Plan) program
showed that Shufersal’s Yashir L’Mehadrin site was offering
products for cheaper than its main website. There were 2,000
identical products found to be cheaper on Yashir L’Mehadrin.

In response, consumers filed a class-action lawsuit against the
company for $160.84 million, contending discrimination based
on sector and that the difference in prices was “due to greed.”
A Shufersal spokesperson told Channel 12 that Yashir
L’Mehadrin is intended for populations that buy products with
the most-stringent kosher certifications, saying “There is no
room for comparing this product or any other between these
sites nor between the different formats.”
Israel to Speed Evacuations of Some Ethiopians
Israel will speed up its evacuations of some of the relatives of
Ethiopian Israelis who remain in the country in the middle of a
civil war, JTA reported.

The news came a week after Sigd, an Ethiopian Jewish holiday
that historically was marked with prayers for God to return the
Jewish people to Israel.

Those with first-degree relatives in Israel will be evacuated more
quickly. That group will number at least 3,000, Ynet reported.

Thousands more Ethiopian Jews are waiting to immigrate,
JTA reported. In the 30 years since Israel covertly airlifted more
than 14,000 Ethiopian Jews as part of Operation Solomon, more
than 8,000 Jews officially recognized by the Israeli government
remained stranded. l
— Compiled by Andy Gotlieb
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM JEWISH EXPONENT
NOVEMBER 18, 2021
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