Peres Visits Chacham Ovadiah and Chief Rabbis

Israeli President Shimon Peres visited Chacham Ovadiah Yosef this week in honor of Pesach. He also paid a visit to Israel’s Chief Rabbis, Rav Yonah Metzger and Rav Shlomo Amar. Peres, who is not religious, has for years been visiting the Chief Rabbis twice a year, on the Chol Hamoed of Pesach and Sukkos. Peres, who has had a relationship with Chacham Ovadiah for many years, expressed his satisfaction with having been able to visit the rov, commenting that his health has improved and that he is a fountain of Torah knowledge.

Peres is three years younger than Chacham Ovadiah, who is 89.

Peres related that he discussed with Chacham Ovadia the famous question of why Moshe Rabbeinu is not mentioned (except one time, in a quoted posuk) in the entire Haggadah despite his role in leading the Yidden out of Mitzrayim. Peres quoted his friend Jacques Attali,a former advisor to ex-French President Mitterrand and a well-known French author, who explains that the Haggadah is not merely a history book, but rather a guidebook about Jewish destiny. Every person must view himself as having left Mitzrayim and what is important, said Peres, is not so much what happened in the past and exactly how it happened, but rather, what will be in the future is what is vital.

Peres discussed various issues with Chacham Ovadiah, including the fate of Gilad Shalit.

Peres then visited Rav Metzger and Rav Amar, accompanied by Rav Shmuel Rabinovitch, the rov of the Kosel.

{Yair Alpert-Matzav.com Israel}