Chief Rabbi of Tiveria HaGaon HaRav Moshe Tzvi Buchbut, expresses shock at the words of Mayor Ron Kobi, who announced on the radio regarding the Slichos held at the kevarim of the founders of Tiveria; “Pagan ceremony.”

Rabbi Buchbut said, “We are sorry to hear that this pure and terrible expression of pure tefilla was met with contempt for the sanctity of Israel … Everywhere else, the words of the Jews everywhere was their main weapon against those who stood up for religion and the Torah of Israel, especially in such a time when we experience and see chilul Shabbos initiated by the mayor.”

“It is incumbent on everyone to daven at these kevarim of those who sleep in the ground and daven in front of the Throne of Glory, as it says, the great righteous are greater in their deaths than in their lives.

“I do not understand how anyone can call the public tefilla ‘incitement’ – it is a clear lack of knowledge and throwing sand in the eyes of the general public, which wants Shmiras Shabbos in the public domain. I am pained and saddened that this is how the city is being managed”.

In the height of chutzpah, Kobi arrived during the tefilla event and began mocking the rabbonim and participants who were taking part in the public tefilla at kivrei tzaddikim. He then boldly stated that davening at the kevarim is contrary to halacha and is tantamount to idol worship.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)