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)