Last night, a central Thanksgiving rally was held at the Merkaz Harav yeshiva to mark the 55th anniversary of the unification of Jerusalem. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, as well as opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu, were absent from the celebrations this year. Opposition MKs attended the gala evening as well as President Yitzhak Herzog, who criticized Bennett for not inviting the traditional event. Another person who has criticized members of the rabbi’s center is the Minister of Intelligence, Elazar Stern.
“Failure to invite the Prime Minister to a ceremony at the Rabbi’s Center politicizes Jerusalem Day and harms Jerusalem’s status among the entire nation,” Kahana wrote this morning (Monday) on his Twitter account.
In an interview with Kippah News, Rabbi Aryeh Stern explained why Bennett was not invited: “It may have been necessary to invite him, but there was a fear that students and worshipers coming from outside would make a big noise, so it was really better not to invite him.”
Minister Elazar Stern Photo: Gili Yaari / Flash90
“We must respect the symbols of the sovereign and independent State of Israel”
President Herzog opened his remarks last night and said that our connection to Jerusalem is eternal and inseparable. “Jerusalem is one, one, and united. And it is all Israeli. Here, in a yeshiva that has suffered a bloody attack, I add: terrorism and threats have not subdued and will not subdue us. Israeli sovereignty in the whole of Jerusalem – just, moral and rooted.”
The President then went on to talk about unity and that we must maintain it. “I stand here and emphasize that Israeli unity is sacred. We must preserve and strengthen it, we must fight hatred and sectarianism, and we must not, for all of us, boycott even those who think differently from us. We must all respect the symbols of the sovereign and independent state of Israel we have dreamed of “Free hatred has destroyed Jerusalem. And if we are not careful, God forbid, it will destroy it again, and not only it. We must all act responsibly. The good of the entire nation and the State of Israel above all, the love of Israel above all.”
Herzog at the Merkaz Harav Yeshiva Photo: Kobi Gideon, GPO
Herzog implicitly criticized the decision not to invite Prime Minister Bennett to the event, citing the words of Rabbi Kook. Adharzog brought in his words words written by Rabbi Kook. Herzog brought in his words words written by Rabbi Kook. Much controversy for heaven’s end to exist. As the above-mentioned rabbi wrote: “The great love that we love our nation, will not blind our eyes to criticize all the mummies.” “We find her self, even after the freer critique, free from any defect.”
“I am very happy that in this sense, too, Zion comes from Torah, and I am sure that from the ‘Merkaz Harav’ house will continue to be heard continuously and firmly the voices of religious Zionism, the voices of unity and statehood, and yes, also voices of controversy for heaven’s sake. And from one of them in those moments full of glory, of heroism and sanctification of the name, while sacrificing their souls and bodies for that day – 55 years ago, what is their political position, whether they wear a kippah or not, and what a kippah exactly. “