Rabbi Menachem Poruch, ob"m, A True Friend to Eretz Yisroel
Rabbi Menachem Porush, of blessed memory, one of the great loyal Jewish activists for nearly eighty years, who passed away last week, gave an exciting and unique interview last year and a half to "Our Land of Israel." Rabbi Porush was a loyal friend of the settlement in Israel, did much to help, and succeeded, by the grace of Heaven, to annul numerous decrees.
Two years ago, while President Bush was visiting in Yerushalayim, meeting with Prime Minister Olmert, he participated in the demonstration that SOS- Israel organized. In the freezing zero degree temperature, he delivered a fiery speech in English-to the world media. We bring a number of passages from the interview with Rabbi Porush to "Our Land of Israel."
"In my darkest dreams I never fathomed that the day would come and there would be a sign posted in Kever Rochel with ′visiting hours.′ Who could imagine that under Israeli rule there would be so many partitions there, giving a feeling of coldness from the warm Jewish heart. A Jewish heart that comes to visit at Kever Rochel, feels and knows the significance of the place. They have removed the soul from the body. We keep up the site, and hope that a Jewish neighborhood will be established close by. We managed to have gotten an allowance for private cars to come to Kever Rochel. Good Jews purchased the house next to Kever Rochel, and let′s hope that we succeed in relieving Mama Rochel′s loneliness."
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"During the Oslo Accords Rabin was about to cede Kever Rochel. Many tried to dissuade him, to no avail. At first I was hesitant, but I asked to meet with Rabin. I said to him: ′ The decision is in your hands. How could you decide to give away Kever Rochel?′ I grabbed him and started crying incessantly.
"Rabin stood, silent. He was confused and embarrassed. He said to me, ′Rabbi Porush, you are that emotional?′ I answered: ′Kever Rochel is our soul′, and I started crying again. I was not able to control myself. At that same meeting, Eitan Haber informed me that the decision was reversed. Today, I hope that those fortress walls built to separate "Mammeh Rochel" from her children will not help, and we will merit that the place be full of life."
***
"There was an interesting story. Week after week, I attacked Barak′s decision in my weekly column in the Anglo-Jewish newspaper, The Jewish Press.
As a result, I received a call from Ambassador Martin Indig. We met and spoke for two hours. I explained that there could be no peace without security, and the consequences of the handing over of Abu Dis, in terms of Jewish security. In short, he was convinced that the time was not right, he hopped over to Washington to convince Clinton, and the Abu Dis chapter had a happy ending."
***
"I have been young, and now am old"; since the times of the British we have never been in such a dangerous situation as the one we find ourselves in today. We have no leadership. A group of cronies sits in secret and sells Eretz Yisroel to the Arabs. This is very frightening. Even the Mapam government was not as bad as this one. It is a very miserable situation. The difference is, that then there was someone who listened, as opposed to now. It is a complete anarchy, everyone does as he wishes."
Photo: Rabbi Menachem Porush speaks at Mass Demonstration during the Bush visit to Yerushalyim
Photo: Rabbi Menachem Porush at a visit to the Gush Katif Museum |
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