“Uri and I were born in the same year, the same day and the same hour. We always maintained a friendship despite differences. This is true today too, [even] after we both entered politics. We do not believe in mysticism but who knows, perhaps there is something. It compels me to think that there is significance. At times, he takes the words out of my mouth. I may be non-religious, but [I] join the calls to pray on his behalf."
Above: MKs Uri Orbach, rightr, and Shelly Yachimovich, left
As Major Orthodox Israeli Politician Lies Ill, Secular Israeli Politician Calls For Her Followers To Pray For Him
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
Israel’s Minister of Senior Citizens Affairs is Uri Orbach of the right-wing Zionist Orthodox HaBayit HaYehudi Party.
Orbach has reportedly been hospitalized in Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center for weeks with an undisclosed illness rumored to be blood-related.
After a period of silence, Orbach published a brief note on his Facebook page Sunday. It reportedly said that he does not want visitors but he does want people to pray for him.
“At present I must focus immediately on treating my condition to get back to health,” Orbach wrote. “Thank you for your prayers [said] on my behalf.”
That prompted secular Labor Party Member of Knesset (and former Labor Party chairwoman) Shelly Yachimovich to ask her Facebook followers to pray for Orbach’s recovery – a cross-border move, so to speak, that is very out of character in Israel's current highly polarized political atmosphere.
And that in turn sparked media questions of Yachimovich. Why would she as a secular woman pray for Orbach or ask her followers to pray for him? What type of relationship does she have with Orbach, who is Orthodox?
“Uri and I were born in the same year, the same day and the same hour. We always maintained a friendship despite differences. This is true today too, [even] after we both entered politics. We do not believe in mysticism but who knows, perhaps there is something. It compels me to think that there is significance. At times, he takes the words out of my mouth. I may be non-religious, but [I] join the calls to pray on his behalf,” Yacimovitch reportedly answered.
Orbach is reportedly in serious condition.
His Hebrew name and mother’s Hebrew name are Uri Shraga ben Penina.