Obituaries

Obituaries from page 65

Israeli MK Menachem Porush, 93

Ronen Medzini
Ynet News

A

n end of an era in Israeli
politics — Rabbi Menachem
Porush, who served as deputy
minister of labor and social welfare
and as a member of Knesset for Agudat
Yisrael has passed away. He was 93.
Rabbi Porush lost consciousness while
in his house in Jerusalem on Sunday, Feb.
21, 2010. Magen David Adorn and United
Hatzalah medical teams tried to resusci-
tate him, but did not succeed.
Rabbi Porush served as a member of
Knesset for 35 years, between 1959 and
1994, and was one of the longest-serving
Israeli politicians. His funeral was delayed
until Monday, despite the custom of
burying the deceased as soon as possible,
in order to allow the public to participate

in the mass funeral.
Moshe Levy, an on-call paramedic from
Magen David Adorn and United Hatzalah
medical services in Jerusalem treated
Rabbi Porush and said that his death was
pronounced after 40 minutes of CPR.
According to Levy, "In a matter of min-
utes, more family members and friends
arrived at the house, including his son
MK Meir Porush. They were all complete-
ly shocked; simply refused to believe it."
United Torah Judaism Chairman MK
Moshe Gafni (United Torah Judaism)
eulogized Rabbi Porush: "He was a
devoted activist for decades, loved by a
large public and personally involved until
his last day"
Menachem's father, Rabbi Moshe
Glickman-Porush was a senior haredi
activist at Agudat Yisrael and Menachem's
son, Meir, continued his father's political

way as deputy construction and housing
minister, deputy education minister and
a member of Knesset on behalf of United
Torah Judaism.
MK Uri Maklev told Ynet News that "All
members of United Torah Judaism are in
deep mourning. Rabbi Menachem Porush
was a legend; an exemplary public figure.
He would always tell me: I am following
you, and you are acting correctly.
"He was involved in public activities
until his last breath. Even in his very last
moments he carried a speech in front of
the Chevra Kadisha. He was a role model
for true public activism:'
Rabbi Menachem Porush came from
a veteran Jerusalemite family, and was
among the leaders of the 1980s and '90s
campaign to close down Bar-Ilan road
on Saturdays. In 1999, he was one of the
organizers of the mass demonstration

Rabbi Menachem Porush

against the High Court.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
said, "The people of Israel lost a cherished
Jew, a smart, caring lover of Israel and
one of its best public figures. We languish
his passing" ❑

worthy

A life well lived

A tradition well served

We strive to honor each person
with dignity and respect

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February 25 • 2010

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