Former Chief Sephardic Rabbi of Israel Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef, spiritual leader of the Shas party, will visit the terrorism-plagued city of Emanuel tomorrow. He will take part, together with Israel's Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, in a memorial ceremony for the nine victims of a bombing-and-shooting terrorist attack on a bus outside the town one month ago. Rabbi Yosef's visit symbolizes a rapprochement of sorts between Shas and the Yesha leadership. Many Yesha residents have not forgotten Shas' support for the original Oslo Agreements nine years ago.
This morning, Shas leader Interior Minister Eli Yeshai met with Yesha Council chief Bentzy Lieberman, and the two took some minutes off to talk with Arutz-7. "We're talking about the struggle faced by Yesha residents in the increasingly difficult day-to-day situation," Yeshai said. "We've always made tremendous efforts to help Yesha, but now even more so. Rabbi Yosef has often personally asked me to help Yesha in various ways..."
Bentzy Lieberman had warm words for his partner: "We here in Yesha have been at war for two years, and one thing that we need is supportive leadership - and this is supplied by Shas. I must emphasize that every time we suffer a terrorist attack, Shas leaders, and especially Eli Yeshai, call right away. Often they even want to come and show support, but the GSS doesn't allow them, so they come later to comfort us instead... I would like to invite everyone to come to this special event that will be held in Emanuel tomorrow. This will be an opportunity to enter this month of Elul, the month of repentance, with a mass display of teshuvah [repentance], in the presence of one of the great Torah leaders of the generation, and show our unity and trust in G-d."
This morning, Shas leader Interior Minister Eli Yeshai met with Yesha Council chief Bentzy Lieberman, and the two took some minutes off to talk with Arutz-7. "We're talking about the struggle faced by Yesha residents in the increasingly difficult day-to-day situation," Yeshai said. "We've always made tremendous efforts to help Yesha, but now even more so. Rabbi Yosef has often personally asked me to help Yesha in various ways..."
Bentzy Lieberman had warm words for his partner: "We here in Yesha have been at war for two years, and one thing that we need is supportive leadership - and this is supplied by Shas. I must emphasize that every time we suffer a terrorist attack, Shas leaders, and especially Eli Yeshai, call right away. Often they even want to come and show support, but the GSS doesn't allow them, so they come later to comfort us instead... I would like to invite everyone to come to this special event that will be held in Emanuel tomorrow. This will be an opportunity to enter this month of Elul, the month of repentance, with a mass display of teshuvah [repentance], in the presence of one of the great Torah leaders of the generation, and show our unity and trust in G-d."