4:55PM EST: YWN has just learned of the sudden Petira of former MK, HaRav Menachem Porush Z”L in Eretz Yisroel. Sources tell YWN that Harav Porush suffered cardiac arrest, and was pronounced dead shortly after by MDA Paramedics which were rushed to his home on Rechov Pines in Yerushalayim. He was 94 years old.
Rav Menachem Porush spent just about his entire life as an Askan working diligently on behalf of the Klal.
Agudath Israel of America executive vice president Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel released the following statement to YWN on behalf of Agudath Israel of America:
“Rabbi Menachem Porush was a giant within the world of Agudath Israel and beyond.
“The contributions Rabbi Porush made to the growth of the Torah community in Eretz Yisroel over many decades of remarkable service, both from within the Israeli government and without, are incalculable. He was blessed with considerable talents — a brilliant mind, magnetic personality, keen insight into human nature, unparalleled communication skills — and used them all to promote the interests of Klal Yisroel. His closeness with Gedolei Yisroel from all backgrounds made him one of the world’s most prominent spokesmen for daas Torah, which for him was no mere slogan but a way of life.
“Rabbi Porush’s petirah leaves a gaping hole that will not easily be filled. It is incumbent on all of us now to study his incredible life story, and to learn and grow from it.”
In 1954 he became a member of the Agudas Yisrael Center in Israel, and a member of the Executive of the World Agudath Israel. In 1955, he was appointed chairman of the Agudas Yisrael Center in Israel. During this time, he also founded Children’s Town to promote Jewish education and combat missionary influence.
In 1959, he was elected for the first time to the Knesset on the Religious Torah Front list, an alliance of Agudas Yisrael and Poalei Agudas Yisrael. He was re-elected in 1961, 1965 and 1969. Between 1969 and 1974 also served as deputy head of Jerusalem city council, and in 1973 he established Kiryat HaYeled – an educational center for Charedi children.
Although he retained his seat in the 1973 elections, he resigned from the Knesset on 23 November 1975, and was replaced by Shlomo-Ya’akov Gross. He returned to the Knesset following the 1977 elections, and was re-elected in 1981 and 1984. On 29 September 1984 he was appointed Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Welfare, a post he held until 2 December the following year. After re-election in 1988, he was re-appointed to the post on 19 November 1990. He retained his seat in the 1992 elections, but resigned from the Knesset for a second and final time on 28 June 1994, and was replaced by Avraham Verdiger.
Further details including Levaya information will be posted as soon as they are available to us.
Boruch Dayan Emmes…
(YWN Israel Desk – Jeruselam)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
9 Responses
boruch dayan emmes.
BDE
Boruch Dayan Ho’emmes. A great man! His Levayeh will be tomorrow 1 pm Israeli time
Rabbi Porush was a great man who worked very hard up to his last day in support of Israel and Jews throughout the world. We were close cousins, both part of the Rivlin family. I most recently saw him at the Rivlin family reunion in October. His funeral will began at 1:30 p.m. (6:30 a.m. EST) on Monday from Kikar Shabbat (Shabbat Square) in Jerusalem to the Har Menuchot cemetery.
Baruch dayan Haemes, one of the great leaders of am yisrael has left us,
may it be a kappara for us
Baruch Dayan Emes
BDH. He will always be remembered as the lion of the Knesset. He was the one that guarded on ‘Kedushas Yerushalayim’ all these years. He was recently documented in the Mishpacha magazine – a must read!
May he be a Meilitz Yosher and a role model for all of todays Askanim.
Baruch Dayan Haaemes! May his dear family find much nechama, peace and solace from his lifetime of great achievements. Hamokom yinachem etchem betoch sheaar avalei Zion ve Yerushalayim! May he be a mailitz yashar for his family and klall Yisrael.
TO # 8 & others
achievements & accomplishmeNTs are not rewarded in the true world, because those are in hashem’s hands.
Rather a persons EFFORTS are what counts. surely r. porush z”l will bask beziv hashchina & will be rewarded for his great EFFORTS.
yehi zicro baruch.