The Prime Minister's Office has "forbidden" Chief Rabbi Yonah Metzger from attending a traditional "Selichot" [penitential prayers] service that will be partially dedicated on behalf of Gush Katif next week in Hevron. Sharon's legal counsel informed the rabbi that the event, to be held in the Machpelah Cave, is a "political event dealing with a matter of public controversy," and that the Chief Rabbi - as a public official equivalent to a judge - must absent himself. Rabbi Metzger expressed sorrow over the decision, but announced that he would abide by it.
Rabbi Chaim Druckman was also informed that his position as head of the Conversion Administration similarly precludes him from attending.
Hevron Jewish Community spokesman Noam Arnon told Arutz-7's Shimon Cohen, "We will not allow the thought police to shut us up. This is a traditional prayer gathering that we hold every year, and this time we decided to include a prayer for the welfare of the people in Gush Katif. I would imagine that Sharon himself should be praying for their welfare, as he has said that it is just demographic concerns that are bringing him to carry out the disengagement. He is now running a spiritual dictatorship, in addition to a political dictatorship."
Rabbi Chaim Druckman was also informed that his position as head of the Conversion Administration similarly precludes him from attending.
Hevron Jewish Community spokesman Noam Arnon told Arutz-7's Shimon Cohen, "We will not allow the thought police to shut us up. This is a traditional prayer gathering that we hold every year, and this time we decided to include a prayer for the welfare of the people in Gush Katif. I would imagine that Sharon himself should be praying for their welfare, as he has said that it is just demographic concerns that are bringing him to carry out the disengagement. He is now running a spiritual dictatorship, in addition to a political dictatorship."