MK Rabbi Avrohom Ravitz was present at the Likud party's
farewell Knesset meeting in honor of Moshe Katsav. This
meeting was attended not only by Knesset members from the
Likud, but also by those of other parties. Rabbi Ravitz was
even one of the speakers.
Rabbi Ravitz chose to focus his speech on remarks made by
Maran the rosh hayeshiva, HaRav Eliezer Menachem Shach
shlita more than 10 years ago to Yitzhak Rabin, in a
period during the period in which the national unity
government headed by Yitzhak Shamir was toppled in some very
distasteful maneuvering.
"First of all, I want to tell you what I can't tell and what
I am prohibited from telling according to the instructions of
my rabbonim. I am forbidden to tell you how I voted today,"
Rabbi Ravitz said, as his audience laughed. "But I want to
tell you a brief story from real life.
"When the rather unpleasant maneuver took place a number of
years ago, Yitzhak Rabin visited Maran HaRav Eliezer Menachem
Shach, may he live for many more years [to which the audience
replied Omein], to find out firsthand if the maneuver
would succeed. HaRav Shach opened a book written during the
period of the Inquisition, and showed him who remained there
in Spain and betrayed their faith, and who were those who
went to the exile. HaRav Shach said that you can see what is
written. The elite, the prominent and the wealthy ones
remained there. Those who went to the exile were the common
folk.
Summing up, Rabbi Ravitz said: "Since the common folk are
with you, I ask, and here I hint: that you must stay with the
common folk, and a word to the wise should be enough."
