Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Tuesday evening made a shiva visit to the home of R’ Menachem Porush z”l. He agreed to be interviewed by Kol Chai Radio as well. Following is the main points of that interview.

Kol Chai: What was your relationship with R’ Porush?

Olmert: The truth is there was a relationship between us for over 50 years. It continued throughout my entire political career, and we had a mutual understanding of the needs of the tzibur and the need to act on behalf of the people. “Rav Porush helped me to become the mayor of Jerusalem. This is no secret. He worked with me and with the permission from rabbonim, R’ Meir withdrew his candidacy to assist me in getting elected for my first time. They voted for me, trusted me, because of him.

The day-to-day connection was via R’ Meir, but I was in touch with R’ Menachem too, for he was always taking care of the needs of the chareidi public. He never rested, always working and toiling on behalf of his tzibur.

Kol Chai: Reference to Ramat Shlomo and his role.

Olmert: Yes, it is known I assisted him in building Ramat Shlomo, as is known and I am proud of it. A marvelous community was constructed there.

Kol Chai: What comes to mind when you think about R’ Porush?

Olmert: First and foremost, he was the leading and dominant figure representing the chareidi community in and out of the Knesset. If anyone was the official spokesman of that community, it was him. He influenced gedolei yisrael. He fought for Yerushalayim and he was a big believer of the Greater Eretz Yisrael. It is no secret we did not agree here since I came to different conclusions.

He called me once, trying to explain why I am mistaken, and he broke down crying in his effort to explain my error. I look at that as a type of Kiddush Hashem.

Kol Chai: How are you these days?

Olmert: I am optimistic by nature. I am Baruch Hashem okay. One must believe. If one believes one does the right things, one knows he will be okay.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)