President Shimon Peres was among the dignitaries on hand on Monday, taking a break from political life and daily responsibilities to join in the simcha of the former Shas Party leader, Rav Aryeh Deri, whose grandson had his pidyon ha’ben.

Also present were Prime Minister Ehud Barak, and Ministers Chaim Ramon, Roni Bar-On and other government ministers and officials. Noticeably absent were a number of Shas officials, including party leader Eli Yishai.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)