Many diplomats are hoping to be counted among those standing in line to meet President Donald Trump in the official welcoming at Ben-Gurion Airport on Monday, 26 Iyar.
Among those invited are the Chief Rabbis of Israel, Rishon L’Tzion Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef Shlita and Chief Rabbi Dovid Lau Shlita.
However, the invitation does not take the kovod of their posts into account as they must agree to be screened by security and rather than arriving in their vehicles with their drivers, they are expected to be placed on the minibus with others attending, having to be dropped off at the central location where the minibus will pick them and others up. The aides to the Chief Rabbis were told the rabbonim must arrive 2.5 hours earlier to permit sufficient time to undergo security inspections.
It is pointed out that the first-row diplomats are not even expected to shake Mr. Trump’s hand, but these are the regulations as the Chief Rabbis received them.
As of now, the Chief Rabbis are not planning to attend and this is not likely to change unless PM Netanyahu decides to call on all cabinet ministers to attend the kabolas panim.
Interior Minister Deri is also not planning to attend since music will be played and he is in the shloshim for his mother.
Some opine that what is no less sad than the lack of respect for the Chief Rabbis is the fact that no one on the government level cares enough to open their mouth on their behalf or on behalf of what they represent, questioning if the pope is to be subjected to the same rigid security check and conditions when Mr. Trump continues his visit from Israel to Rome and the Vatican.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
4 Responses
With all respect, this is much ado about nothing. To be accurate the “chief rabbonim” are political patronage appointees and thus can not, lehavdil, be viewed in the same context as the Pope. All these games about who stands where, who goes with the President to which sites, whether Bibi or Rabinowitz escorts him around the kosel are political theatre.
Hope the HONORABLE President Trump will put the self-hating so-called high court of Israel in place. After all, the State of Israel is the 51st State of the U.S.A. So President Trump should please give them a piece of mind. If only he could do to these self-elected judges what he did with the Supreme Court Judge in the U.S. Until Moshiach comes it’s obvious that President Trump’s mission is to enforce law and order in the world. G-D BLESS PRESIDENT TRUMP!
The Pope is the head of state. Netanyahu also doesn’t need security clearance. But besides the comparison, Chief Rabbis should not need clearance. It’s not כבוד התורה. I hope they don’t attend. Trump should go to them for advice and blessing.
Arye,
Please get your meds adjusted.
Refuah sh’leima.