President Shimon Peres has announced he will not be among the international dignitaries gracing the Olympic Games in London for the official opening ceremony that will take place after candle light on shabbos. The president announced on Tuesday that he does not want to be a cause of chilul shabbos by a senior state official and his security detail.
The president explained that while he would have loved to be there for Israel’s team, he would not be part of the chilul shabbos and be responsible for the chilul shabbos of his security team so there simply was no alternative but to opt out.
Peres’ staff announced the final decision was made after it became apparent it would not be possible to find a hotel for Mr. Peres in walking distance to the event as he decided not to participate. The statement adds Mr. Peres was willing to walk but it simply did not work because logistically such a plan would have created many problems for the security team.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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7 Responses
Impressive.
Kol HakaVod
We should be very proud of him
Very nice story.
Since when is Peres a shomer shabbos?
Yaish koneh oilumo b’shaah achas…
I remember Winston Churchill’s funeral in London in 1965. It was on Shabbos and David Ben Gurion walked in the funeral procession instead of ridding. Apparently Zalman Shazar (Israel’s president at the time) had persuaded Ben Gurion that, as representative of the Jewish State, he should not be mechalel Shabbos in such a public manner.
Contemporary film of the event shows Ben Gurion walking… carrying a furled umbrella. I presume he was afraid of maris ayin!
Q.well if he is so religious then y does he meet with the president on shabbos and eat non kosher foods with him without a problem?????????????????????????? A. cuz he doesnt care he just wants publicity!