Welcome, Guest! - or
Easy to remember!  »  VinNews.com

Jerusalem - Peres: If It Were Up To Me All Jews Should Keep Shabbos

Published on:   March 11, 2010 09:53 AM
News Source:  Haaretz
Change text size Text Size  
Bookmark and Share
Email Post
Print Post
A handout photo by GPO - Israeli President Shimon Peres (2nd R) visits Rabbi Aharon Leib Shteinman (2nd L) at his house in Bnei Brak. on March 10, 2010. Photo by Shuki Lerrer/ GPO / Flash90.A handout photo by GPO - Israeli President Shimon Peres (2nd R) visits Rabbi Aharon Leib Shteinman (2nd L) at his house in Bnei Brak. on March 10, 2010. Photo by Shuki Lerrer/ GPO / Flash90.

Jerusalem - President Shimon Peres said yesterday that if it were up to him, all Jews would observe the Sabbath and work only six days a week - “as the Torah commands.”

Speaking on an official visit to the predominantly ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak, Peres said he was proud that the state and the IDF released yeshiva students from military service so they could devote their life to Torah study.

The president, who spoke fondly and sympathetically of the ultra-Orthodox community, its rabbis, values and way of life, was welcomed by Bnei Brak’s top officials and leading rabbis. He had come a long way from the days in which for them he epitomized the hated left wing, which the late ultra-Orthodox Lithuanian leader Rabbi Eliezer Menachem Shach lambasted in 1990 as “breeders of rabbits and pigs.”

Advertisement:

While students from Bnei Brak’s renowned Ponevezh yeshiva pushed through the crowd of thousands of young men to be photographed with the president, fanatic ultra-Orthodox factions arrived on buses from Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh to demonstrate against the guest.

“The people who sit here really study Torah for its own sake. I’m very proud that the state and army have agreed to release them to devote their life to their studies,” Peres said at the yeshiva.

After stopping at Ponevezh yeshiva, Peres met privately with one of the Lithuanian ultra-Orthodox community’s leaders, Aharon Yehuda Leib Shteinman. The president intended to discuss ways of advancing Bnei Brak economically, but also took time to address acute political issues such as the current tension in the coalition over the new conversion bill. He also reminisced about his childhood, waxing nostalgic over Gemara studies with his grandfather and the famous blessing he received as an infant from Rabbi Chofetz Chaim.

Demonstrators outside the meeting with Shteinman held up posters against “desecrating and degrading our holy Torah by paying respect in public to the the evil president of the heretic state! For money!” They railed against Shteinman and, after Peres left, threw rocks and other objects at the rabbi’s house.

Speaking at the Haredi-owned IROX hi-tech company, which employs 80 ultra-Orthodox women, the president said: “I would say half-jokingly that if I really had the power to do so, I would have all the Jews keep the Sabbath and work only six days a week, as the Torah commands.”


More of today's headlines

“Brooklyn, NY - Protesters are expected to turn out in downtown Brooklyn today as construction on the controversial Atlantic Yards project is set to begin after...” “New York, NY - Cruiser made four house calls on a recent rain-soaked Tuesday. There were two happy endings and two unhappy ones, a fairly typical outcome for a typical...”

 

Total57

Read Comments (57)  —  Post Yours »

1

 Mar 11, 2010 at 09:01 AM Anonymous Says:

does he keep Shabbos if yes wow that's great if not yes its up to him to keep Shabbos

Reply »

2

 Mar 11, 2010 at 09:02 AM Big Masmid Says:

This is sick!!! is HE Shomer Shabbos? (I don't think so) So why is he telling us to be Shomer?

Reply »

3

 Mar 11, 2010 at 09:07 AM Shmyah from Lakewood Says:

Big talker is his family keeping shabos

Reply »

4

 Mar 11, 2010 at 09:10 AM קנאפער חכם Says:

There are two types of Ultra-Orthodox, the Ponovizsh that pushed to be photographed with this scum, then there were those who came to protest. And which one is called fanatic? Of course the demonstrators. I beg to differ, or you call them both fanatic or both bright minded!

Reply »

5

 Mar 11, 2010 at 09:13 AM Humiliated Says:

Throwing rocks !! Grow up

Reply »

6

 Mar 11, 2010 at 09:15 AM David Says:

"Demonstrators outside the meeting with Shteinman held up posters against "desecrating and degrading our holy Torah by paying respect in public to the the evil president of the heretic state! For money!" They railed against Shteinman and, after Peres left, threw rocks and other objects at the rabbi's house."

When they run out of other things to protest, they protest each other. Draft them into the army, teach them a trade, cut off their welfare, get them jobs, and they'll have much less time for throwing rocks and yelling at people.

Reply »

7

 Mar 11, 2010 at 09:17 AM uh huh... Says:

Why doesn't he start off simply and keep shabbos himself- and that IS up to him!

Reply »

8

 Mar 11, 2010 at 09:17 AM Anonymous Says:

"the president said: "I would say half-jokingly that if I really had the power to do so, I would have all the Jews keep the Sabbath and work only six days a week, as the Torah commands."

That is the problem, he thinks it's a JOKE!

Reply »

9

 Mar 11, 2010 at 09:23 AM Anonymous Says:

I heard his wife at least is shomer shabbos. Maybe he is too?

Reply »

10

 Mar 11, 2010 at 09:27 AM Anonymous Says:

i believe there was an article a while back him saying something to the fact that he started trying to keep shabos

Reply »

11

 Mar 11, 2010 at 09:28 AM anonymous Says:

Reply to #2  
Big Masmid Says:

“ This is sick!!! is HE Shomer Shabbos? (I don't think so) So why is he telling us to be Shomer? ”

If someone has to tell you to be a "shomer" than you are not

Reply »

12

 Mar 11, 2010 at 09:34 AM Anonymous Says:

this is the same peres that kissed madona when she came to israel.

Reply »

13

 Mar 11, 2010 at 09:36 AM Anonymous Says:

lemme see him have close down the parking lot in terusaleim.....such a freek!!!

Reply »

14

 Mar 11, 2010 at 09:38 AM Heshy Says:

He is most likely not shomer shabbos but that doesn't mean that at this point in his life he can't see some of the truth and value behind it.

Reply »

15

 Mar 11, 2010 at 09:44 AM cool masmid Says:

Reply to #2  
Big Masmid Says:

“ This is sick!!! is HE Shomer Shabbos? (I don't think so) So why is he telling us to be Shomer? ”

Listen here big masmid, you can't make statements like that unless you can back it up. My take is as he's getting older he is looking back at his life and he knows no one is here to stay - not even the President of Israel, and so he is in someway becoming more observant, and for sure more sympathetic to observant yidden- you see this with him consistently. So let's give him credit where credit is due. Now its back to your gemara. I going to work ,maybe I'll see you later in the Bais Hamedrash.

Reply »

16

 Mar 11, 2010 at 09:46 AM Anonymous Says:

Read the fine print in the article HE SAID IT AS A SEMI JOKE! He is a politician that needs to keep everyone happy with his ceremonial position. The "keep shabbos" blurb was just to make the entire frum world feel happy, honored, and righteous. They usually love to be told all the time how their lifestyle is so correct and that everyone else is missing out.
The article should have questioned what political/financial deal that was possibly made with this visit and a cording speech?

Reply »

17

 Mar 11, 2010 at 09:47 AM Anonymous Says:

What a politician, look at who he was talking to.

Reply »

18

 Mar 11, 2010 at 09:48 AM punch Says:

he is an old corrupt politician that'll say anything u want to hear.
why does he only talk about shabbos which is only on of 613 Mitzvas?

Reply »

19

 Mar 11, 2010 at 09:50 AM Shmuel Says:

Believe it or not a lot of these guys do keep shabbis to a certain extent

Reply »

20

 Mar 11, 2010 at 09:58 AM Avigdor Says:

He is a big hypocrite he is 100% Mechalel Shabbos, all he did was, he made fun of all the Shomer Shabbos Jews in the world

Reply »

21

 Mar 11, 2010 at 09:58 AM Ira Says:

The complaints are silly and mean-spirited. Here is a man who is the president of the State, paying homage to a leading ultra-orthodox figure, and the so-called Torah way of life, and saying he is proud of the fact that the State releases people from army service to study torah. Shimon Peres has never claimed to be a tzadik. His words and actions should be praised as a sincere attempt to bridge the gap between religious and secular Jews, and certainly not ridiculed.

Reply »

22

 Mar 11, 2010 at 10:01 AM Anonymous Says:

Chazer fissle!

Reply »

23

 Mar 11, 2010 at 10:02 AM Anonymous Says:

Shimon Peres knows that his not very good judgment is coming soon, and he utters platitudes and makes up stories about brochos in the hope he will get a little cooler place in Gehennom. We will never forget how he used the proud title Jew in a disparaging way to describe those who do not kowtow to his post zionist vapidity.

However, demonstrating is no way to handle him either. He is to be ignored, like any other chamoir looking for attention (including Neturei Karta).

Reply »

24

 Mar 11, 2010 at 10:06 AM Anonymous Says:

Peres is a big traitor to his own nation and country and should replace pollard in jail.

Reply »

25

 Mar 11, 2010 at 10:06 AM A.N. Says:

"I would say half-jokingly that if I really had the power to do so, I would have all the Jews keep the Sabbath and work only six days a week, as the Torah commands."

The above quotation abridged: "I really had the power to do so, I would have all the Jews work six days a week". Which sort of negates everything he said earlier.

Reply »

26

 Mar 11, 2010 at 10:14 AM Chaim Braun Says:

Reply to #12  
Anonymous Says:

“ this is the same peres that kissed madona when she came to israel. ”

I don't see the connection between keeping shabbes and kissing madona!

Kissing... common... it a jesture of respect.
U Pervert!

Reply »

27

 Mar 11, 2010 at 10:23 AM Anonymous Says:

Demonstrators outside the meeting with Shteinman held up posters against "desecrating and degrading our holy Torah by paying respect in public to the the evil president of the heretic state! For money!" They railed against Shteinman and, after Peres left, threw rocks and other objects at the rabbi's house."
Throwing rock at Rav Shteimans house is desecrating and degrading our holy Torah !

Reply »

28

 Mar 11, 2010 at 10:33 AM Anonymous Says:

Reply to #4  
קנאפער חכם Says:

“ There are two types of Ultra-Orthodox, the Ponovizsh that pushed to be photographed with this scum, then there were those who came to protest. And which one is called fanatic? Of course the demonstrators. I beg to differ, or you call them both fanatic or both bright minded! ”

Draft the rock throwers into the army and put them on the front lines. There they can use these rock throwing skills against Hamas.

Reply »

29

 Mar 11, 2010 at 10:39 AM chaim Says:

shimon peres has a kosher kitchen, rests on shabbos, and is a great thinker, and one can only wish, our gedolim would be such a kidush hashem to the entire world, the way shimon peres is. he is respected in all circles of the universe, and believe you me, thats no easy task being a leader in israel, perhaps what i am writing is to deep, to grasp, if you grow up in the ghetto.

Reply »

30

 Mar 11, 2010 at 10:50 AM Anonymous Says:

Reply to #18  
punch Says:

“ he is an old corrupt politician that'll say anything u want to hear.
why does he only talk about shabbos which is only on of 613 Mitzvas? ”

Should he also give shiur while he is at Ponovitch??

Reply »

31

 Mar 11, 2010 at 11:18 AM Anonymous Says:

Grow the hell up all of u. U always need something to whine about!! Throw rocks ur no diffrent then the palestinian animals! Grow up! Acting like animals u think u do the right things but the truth is anyone who is remotely semi religous or not will run as far as they can. Stop acting and condoning ur wild ways

Reply »

32

 Mar 11, 2010 at 11:38 AM SimchaB Says:

Reply to #29: Stop with your nonsense. A kiddush Hashem doesn't mean respect in all circles of the universe for secular & political accomplishments. It means respect for keeping the Torah & listening to Hashem! Stop defaming our Torah leaders, you apikores!

Reply »

33

 Mar 11, 2010 at 11:38 AM Anonymous Says:

Reply to #29  
chaim Says:

“ shimon peres has a kosher kitchen, rests on shabbos, and is a great thinker, and one can only wish, our gedolim would be such a kidush hashem to the entire world, the way shimon peres is. he is respected in all circles of the universe, and believe you me, thats no easy task being a leader in israel, perhaps what i am writing is to deep, to grasp, if you grow up in the ghetto. ”

We remember all too well how he called those who did not support his post zionist claptrap "Jews" in a derogatory member, as opposed to Israelis. And all EY politicians have kosher kitchens, especially presidents. Resting? Sure. He is an old man and rests a bit every day.

Reply »

34

 Mar 11, 2010 at 11:41 AM Ahavath Israel Says:

By any reckoning, the more contact the chilonim have with Charedim and Dati'im the better. We have enough to show them the good of Yahaduth, and the more they are exposed to it the less they will shy away from it as is the situation today.

Reply »

35

 Mar 11, 2010 at 11:48 AM Finer Yid Says:

This is a man who has dedicated his entire life to service of his people. You may not agree with him but he has been under threat of assassination and verbal attacks for decades. Now he says something nice about yiddishkeit so you attack him. This is cognitive dissonance. You simply cannot accept that a member of the tzioni gov't could do something nice. Well - envy his olam habo

Reply »

36

 Mar 11, 2010 at 11:51 AM I mean, seriously? Says:

What is it your business what he does personally? Is he accountable to you?

Much, much worse is the fact that you are all criticizing someone who said "I wish ALL jews would keep Shabbos>"

What's so bad about that that all you can do is criticize his personal decision of whether or not he himself is frum?

Tell me, big talkers, if the Pope made a speech and said "I wish all Jews would observe their Sabbath and keep it holy" would you applaud or criticize him?

You are all filled with Sin'as Chinom, and can't wait to pick apart every news story and try to find something wrong with the person or event.

You must all have very low self-esteem if you can only make yourselves feel good by tearing others down!

Reply »

37

 Mar 11, 2010 at 12:10 PM Anonymous Says:

Reply to #24  
Anonymous Says:

“ Peres is a big traitor to his own nation and country and should replace pollard in jail. ”

It is always humorous to see someone attack a person who has spent his life in defense of Israel. I take it you were there in '48 and you continue to fight for the country today. That you disagree with his politics doen't make him a traitor. Shame on you. To those who are so frum that they condemn others to gehennom I wonder if Hashem will agree that you deserve anything better. You might better spend your time improving your observance of the 613 mitzvot than comment on others lack thereof.

Reply »

38

 Mar 11, 2010 at 12:20 PM Anonymous Says:

Time for him to retire.

Reply »

39

 Mar 11, 2010 at 12:22 PM shomer shabos Says:

i think this whole matzav is a great kiddush hashem and i also think that if he says that if it was up to him all klal yisrael would keep shabbos ,one should be dan lekuf zechus that he is shomer shabbos.

Reply »

40

 Mar 11, 2010 at 12:31 PM geshmake masmid Says:

Reply to #15  
cool masmid Says:

“ Listen here big masmid, you can't make statements like that unless you can back it up. My take is as he's getting older he is looking back at his life and he knows no one is here to stay - not even the President of Israel, and so he is in someway becoming more observant, and for sure more sympathetic to observant yidden- you see this with him consistently. So let's give him credit where credit is due. Now its back to your gemara. I going to work ,maybe I'll see you later in the Bais Hamedrash. ”

Well said cool Masmid....

Reply »

41

 Mar 11, 2010 at 12:37 PM chaim Says:

to all those "tzadikim" going wild, with my opinion about shimon peres, i say. are you so scared to hear a different opinion, that you your only response is name calling. i am i an apikoris if i believe in a pusuk in chumash. "ushmartem viasisem ki hi chochmaschem uvinaschem lenei huamim etc. viomru rak om chuchom vinovon hagoi hagudol hazeh" im sorry to say the way the world looks at chasidim, is quite different from what the pusik says, {unless the pusik is bilushon sagi nuhor}
ps. he allways had a kosher kitchen. and what i meant rest on shabbos, i am talking about the basic dinim. i dont know if he keeps every briske chumreh. or if he is makpid to eat an extra kugol for shabos pureh.

Reply »

42

 Mar 11, 2010 at 01:52 PM SimchaB Says:

Reply to #41: LOL your proof teaches us the opposite of your earlier statement. "ushmartem viasisem" what do you think that means, that one who had a public persona as a chiloni/secularist for half a century or more is the dugma of the posuk and a greater kiddush Hashem than our Gedolei Torah?! What a bunch of nonsensical apikorsus! Yes apikorsus, unlike your infantile claim, I didn't only resort to name calling, I responded and then I classified your hateful tirade for what it truly is, apikorsus. Yes, hamevaze Talmid Chochom is an apikores.

Reply »

43

 Mar 11, 2010 at 01:53 PM Anonymous Says:

Reply to #41  
chaim Says:

“ to all those "tzadikim" going wild, with my opinion about shimon peres, i say. are you so scared to hear a different opinion, that you your only response is name calling. i am i an apikoris if i believe in a pusuk in chumash. "ushmartem viasisem ki hi chochmaschem uvinaschem lenei huamim etc. viomru rak om chuchom vinovon hagoi hagudol hazeh" im sorry to say the way the world looks at chasidim, is quite different from what the pusik says, {unless the pusik is bilushon sagi nuhor}
ps. he allways had a kosher kitchen. and what i meant rest on shabbos, i am talking about the basic dinim. i dont know if he keeps every briske chumreh. or if he is makpid to eat an extra kugol for shabos pureh. ”

We are the ones who are not blinded by a few empty gestures. Anyone who would use the word Jew in a derogatory fashion as Peres did is not worthy of anything but the same scorn we would heap on some old redneck who spoke of Jewing someone down.

He represents the worst of post Zionism and he will be reunited with Rabin in "olam haba" that is heated by the hammei Tverya

Reply »

44

 Mar 11, 2010 at 02:54 PM chaim Says:

im sorry simch b, but i can see that you dont know the gimora so i will quote it to you מנין שמצוה על האדם לחשב תקופות ומזלות שנאמר כי היא חכמתכם ובינתכם לעיני העמים איזו חכמה ובינה לעיני העמים הוי אומר זה חישוב תקופות ומזלות i a m really sorry if this gemore wasnt said by the shalishiedes torah. because it dosent fit the agenda, i wonder if you have a clue about other definition of apikores besides המבזה ת"ח נקרא אפיקורס thata one we hear at every opp. wether it makes sense or not. it works well to scare of people. can you explain were hmevazeh comes in to the picture who exactly did i embarass????????

Reply »

45

 Mar 11, 2010 at 03:01 PM Male Nurse Says:

These demonstrators are nothing more than a bunch of reshaim.....

Reply »

46

 Mar 11, 2010 at 03:33 PM yb Says:

Reply to #1  
Anonymous Says:

“ does he keep Shabbos if yes wow that's great if not yes its up to him to keep Shabbos ”

The translation from Hebrew ks wrong. He means that everyone would "honor" or "respect" shabbos. I don't think he was talking about following cheleck III of mishna brurah

Reply »

47

 Mar 11, 2010 at 03:47 PM SimchaB Says:

Reply to #44: Sorry but I only have internet access via my cellphone and it won't display the Hebrew script.
I translate mevaze as disgrace and that you surely did.

Reply »

48

 Mar 11, 2010 at 04:37 PM anonymous Says:

Frankly as one who as a teenager risked his life to daven in concentration camp some of you sound like fakers which you probably are. You sit on your derrier here in U.S. make money and prave frimkeit. None of you ever risked his life for another Yid and none of you ever was is a zakuna of Arab retzicha. My advice to you is shut up, join the Neturei Karta and wear the kefiya which these rotzchim are wearing when they are ready to kill a Yid and is worn on the internet by Yidden. As far Pollard he should have kept his mouth shut and the Israeli government would not or possibly would not have dropped him like a hot potatoe

Reply »

49

 Mar 11, 2010 at 04:50 PM Toras Moshe Emess Says:

Knowing Peres' "record" visavis Torah obervance, I view his comments with a large dose of incredulity. HOWEVER, we are commanded to judge our fellow Jew favorably and, whatever our personal opinions of him and his past, Peres IS stll a Jew (Sanhedrin 44a: “A Jew who sins is still a Jew").

It should be our hope that this (and some earlier comments) are indicative of a desire on his part to do teshuva. Rather than railing against him for his past sins (the damage of which cannot be undone and, surely, he will answer for before the TRUE JUDGE) we should embrace and encourage him in this direction.

BS"D he WILL make a true teshuva.

Reply »

50

 Mar 11, 2010 at 05:35 PM Anonymous Says:

Reply to #2  
Big Masmid Says:

“ This is sick!!! is HE Shomer Shabbos? (I don't think so) So why is he telling us to be Shomer? ”

B'rabim he is shomer shabbos

Reply »

51

 Mar 11, 2010 at 08:07 PM Dr. Z Says:

I am no fan of Shimon Peres. {He was not very helpful to Jonathan Pollard, for example].

However, he has contributed greatly to the modern-day State of Israel and hence to the security of millions of Jews. During the 40s, he helped map out paths through wadis and valleys which the Palmach subsequently used in battle.
Some 50 years ago, he orchestrated the development of the Dimona nuclear reactor, which apparently has produced hundreds of nuclear weapons. It is these weapons which have intimidated many of our enemies.

Let's have some hakaras ha'tov.

Reply »

52

 Mar 11, 2010 at 08:59 PM Anonymous Says:

I once went on vacation to a foreign small island,(st barthelemy/st barts) i saw president peres walking to a hotel were there was a minyan for shabos. at the end of the minyan there was a person whom was driving back to his hotel he asked Mr. peres if you would like a lift, as they were staying in the same hotel. Mr peres said on shabbat i dont drive, i walk!
also at the minyan he know his way arround davening and laining.

Reply »

53

 Mar 11, 2010 at 09:13 PM I mean, seriously? Says:

What is wrong with you people?

Is there something wrong with what he said?

Or is it that you just don't approve of his private lifestyle?

why don't you examine every person in the news that VIN quotes or writes about, and anyone not as frum as you we will vilify. does that work for you?

BTW, Obama, Paterson, Blumberg, etc. are not frum. eVERY TIME THEY ARE QUOTED LET'S POINT OUT HOW THEY ARE NOT SHOMER tORAH uMITZVOS, OKAY?

Reply »

54

 Mar 11, 2010 at 09:56 PM Charlie Hall Says:

Why should any non-Orthodox politician ever do anything for us?

Among non-Orthodox Israeli politicians President Peres has been THE person who has been most sympathetic to Torah issues -- for half a century. He is quite close to Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef and reportedly learned with him. He always supported funding for Torah institutions. He speaks proudly of having met the Chofetz Chaim as a child.

And of course it is because of Shimon Peres that Israel has nuclear weapons.

That would justify our gratitude even if he never observed a single ritual commandment. But many here have been testifying that in fact he does observe a number of mitzvot!

Think of the message you are sending here.

Reply »

55

 Mar 12, 2010 at 01:22 AM disapointed Says:

Its not Rabbi Chofetz Chaim it is the Chofetz Chaim or Reb Yisroel Meir kagan Zatzal. Also when reffering to a gadol like R' Ahron Leib it would be proper to call him Reb or Rabbi not just Shtienman

Reply »

56

 Mar 14, 2010 at 11:24 AM shimon taylor Says:

Shabbos is so great, that even paying lip service to it, is a good sign!

Reply »

57

 Mar 15, 2010 at 04:43 PM yehuda says Says:

Reply to #1  
Anonymous Says:

“ does he keep Shabbos if yes wow that's great if not yes its up to him to keep Shabbos ”

does it realy matter what he says, or what he keeps ?
he is just a politic and politics love to talk for the sake of talking just to get support from voters .....
and to the other thing with keeping shabbes it is realy great , col ha-cavod, even if he isn`t a daati these words will have some effect on him . even if he didn`t mean them seriously ,because every thing that a person says may have some truth in it or an effect on his subconcience and that`s what is meant by melo lishma ba lishma and to the other thing as it says in the gemarrah that the pashute people aren`t hayav for their averot since they don`t know the seriousness of the avera. but after all we are hayav to love all our jewish mishpuche and to judge them lechav zchut

Reply »

58

Sign-in to post a comment

Scroll Up
Advertisements:

Sell your scrap gold and broken jewelry and earn hard cash sell gold today!