Minister of Transportation (Likud) Yisrael Katz raised a few eyebrows with his statement drawing a comparison to Moshe Rabbeinu during a press conference. Katz on Monday morning, 5 Tammuz spoke to the press in Tel Aviv as work is beginning on the city’s light rail system.
Katz spoke of the wondrous situation, explaining “It is unbelievable that for over 60 years it did not occur while other developed nations launched a mass transit system. There were cornerstone ceremonies and promises, but no actions. I entered the post six years ago and found there are companies that were awarded tenders but no construction. The experts in the ministry and treasury reached the conclusion that companies awarded tenders were incapable of carrying out the project”.
Katz explained that he decided the project is a national priority that must move forward and he has succeeded in bringing the light rail in Tel Aviv to the construction stage.
“If Moshe Rabbeinu brought Am Yisrael through the desert for 40 years, and we are doing it in six. It will be difficult but we will do it” he added.
The minister’s words elicited the ire of some in the chareidi community, who feel the analogy was beyond an acceptable level of chutzpah from a cabinet minister.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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11 Responses
That’s too bad that some “Chareidim” don’t like his comment. I like his comment. I like our heritage mentioned by Israeli officials. We in Chareidi camps don’t own the Torah, every Jew owns it, and I am glad he is thinking about our Great Torah leaders in his everyday life. We are supposed to bring Torah into our everyday lives. No leaders in America mention great Torah leaders but in Israel they do, so that is a Shavach for us, a good thing.
The analogy is amusing
Aw,
They probably had trains in the desert ,but they lacked fuel
He is a bissel farmisht. Nothing to get all worked up about. At least he knows who Moshe Rabbinu was.
He’s going to build a train through the sinai?
So he actually believes in Moishe Rabbeinu?? Hmm, I wonder.
This is not a chutzpah its apikursus. kfira in Hakb”h
I really don’t understand why anyone is surprised by this. Perhaps by the fact that he knew about Moshe Rabenu…
“The minister’s words elicited the ire of some in the chareidi community ”
Our dear chareidi community:if you’re going to cry wolf too often..
Other than being typical political hyperbole I don’t see what the problem is.
What is the analogy? What connection does Moshe Rabeinu have with a train? At least he 2 facts about him
1) He was in the midbar 2) It was for 40 yrs.
Sorry, should read “At least he KNOWS 2 facts about him”