Rabbi Menachem Froman’s funeral began at noon Tuesday in his hometown of Tekoa in Gush Etzion. Thousands came to pay their respects and to accompany Rabbi Froman to his final resting place.
Religious and political leaders were among those at the procession. Among them were Minister Moshe Yaalon, MK Motti Yogev, Jewish Agency head Natan Sharansky, and Gush Etzion Regional Council head Davidi Perl.
Rabbi Froman passed away Monday at the age of 68 following a three-year battle with cancer. During his illness he continued to give regular Torah classes.
He was renowned for his dedication to peace. Rabbi Froman believed that religious leaders were more able to find common ground than politicians, and met with many Muslim and Arab leaders, including former Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat and Hamas arch-terrorist and spiritual leader Ahmed Yassin.
While some criticized him for meeting with enemies, Rabbi Froman remained widely respected in the religious Jewish world. He was mourned Tuesday by religious and political figures from across the spectrum, from the religious-Zionist community to the far-left Peace Now movement.