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Former Minister Yossi Sarid Dies at the age of 75


saridA former head of the left-wing Meretz Party and cabinet minister, Yossi Sarid, died at the age of 75. Sarid, who championed the battle against religious and chareidi Jewry, was niftar in Tel Aviv on Friday night. He served in Knesset for 32 years.

Chareidi elected officials have declined to comment on his death when asked to do so by the media. Some right-wingers who commented, such as Lehava leader Bentzion Gupstein, expressed delight over the news and in his case, opposition leader MK Yitzchak Herzog is calling to outlaw his organization, citing his delight over Sarid’s death as an example of what a lowly individual he is, adding “There is no reason for him to continue to be legal and acceptable in Israel”.

Sarid was be laid to rest on Sunday, in a secular levaya in a kibbutz as per his request.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)



11 Responses

  1. I may not have agreed with him politically, but he was honest, sincere, and loved Israel. Would only many of the so called frumma have these traits.

  2. 1-7 Everyone chooses which of the 613 mitzvos to keep and which to ignore. Many charedim steal and cheat without giving it a seconds thought. Sarid broke Shabbos and ate treif without giving it a seconds thought. לא תגנב is pretty clear. Why do so many charedim feel they are potur from this mitzva d’oraisa but think Sarid is such a rosha?

  3. hershel2626:
    You write that “Everyone” chooses which to keep? Would that be from the reform or do you really mean to imply that all Jews ch”V pick and choose? Are you even Jewish?

    You also write that “Many Chareidim” violate lo signov? How many Chareidim do you even know? Are you relying on newspapers for this statement? Do you simply hate Chareidim that you wish to libel them?

    The awesome lashon haRa in your post, for which it is likely impossible to ask mechila, especially for the first part of the post, is not enviable.

    Next, even IF there were any truth to any part of your statement, it is still despicable to compare this person to an otherwise G-d fearing person who is sometimes not fully honest.

    Both are, of course, wrong. Very wrong. But the essential difference is that, unlike monetary temptation, there is no similar temptation that exists to “violate Shabbos and [eat] treif without…a seconds [sic] thought” and, more importantly, that the alleged Chareidi is still very much aware of, and likely pained by, his alleged violation of lo signov, unlike this person.

    I think the mods should remove your post.

  4. Hakatan,
    Certainly there are temptations to violate Shabbat a good baseball game on television, a concert, a trip to the beach etc.
    And as far as temptations to eat non kosher; real Italian pizza for half the price of kosher pizza including pepperoni, a good meal at the Shake Shack when driving cross country and of course hot dogs and a milk shake at the baseball game.
    On another note Yossi Sarid lived in Israel not Boro Park and he really did not care if you or I were observant, he just did not want someone to tell him what to do or not to do. Additionally I once had a business dealing with him after he left the kenesset and his honesty was beyond reproach

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