Amid rumors regarding his medical condition, Minister of Senior Citizens Affairs (Bayit Yehudi) Uri Orbach released a message from Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Yerushalayim. Orbach has been hospitalized for a number of weeks. Some reports state he has a severe case of pneumonia while others report he is being treated for a hematological illness.

The minister released a message to the media on Sunday 27 Teves, explaining he is now focusing on his health. He added he does not want visitors and that the tzibur should be mispallel for him bsoch kol cholei yisrael. On Sunday hospital officials reported a slight improvement but added the minister remains in serious condition. אורי שרגא בן פנינה(Uri Shraga ben Penina)

The message on Orbach’s Facebook page read “At present I must focus immediately on treating my condition to get back to health. Thank you for your tefilos on my behalf”.

Interestingly MK (Labor) Shelly Yacimovich used her Facebook page to call on her followers to daven for Orbach too. When asked what her connection is with Orbach, she explained “Uri and I were born in the same year, the same day and the same hour. We always maintained a friendship despite differences. This is true today too, after we both entered politics. We do not believe in mysticism but who knows, perhaps there is something. It compels me to think that there is significance. At times, he takes the words out of my mouth. I may be non-religious but join the calls to daven on his behalf”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)