Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not been documented as wearing tefillin. So according to insiders. Chabad followers, with whom he maintains close contact and with whom he met throughout his various public duties, have repeatedly asked him to keep the mitzvah, but he – under various pretexts – has always refused.
Today (Sunday), journalist Yinon Magal, who is considered close to him, posted a video on the social network in which he was seen urging Netanyahu to put on tefillin. “Prime Minister,” Magal was heard addressing him, “the Chabadniks are driving me crazy. I have friends and people I meet, ask you to put on tefillin.”
Netanyahu was heard responding in the video: “Certainly, not in the sand of time.” After the holiday ends, will Netanyahu, probably for the first time in public, put on tefillin? time will tell.
Magal has a regular Chabad membership in Chassidut. He often studies the Torah internally with a Chabad emissary in the Katamon neighborhood of Jerusalem, Rabbi Or Ziv. Rabbi Ziv wrote today following Netanyahu’s answer: “Thank you Lennon for the mission of the mitzvah, do not despair in the end it will happen with the help of God.”
Watch the video.