Rabbi Menachem Porush, who served as Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Welfare and as a member of Knesset for the Agudath Israel party and United Torah Judaism, died Feb. 21. He was 93.
Porush lost consciousness in his Jerusalem home and paramedics were unable to resuscitate him.
Porush served as a member of Knesset between 1959 and 1994 and was one of the longest-serving Israeli politicians. His funeral, held Feb. 22 in Jerusalem, was attended by thousands of people, including politicians and public figures.
The masses gathered at the Agudath Israel house in Jerusalem, then headed off to the Mount of Olives Cemetery.
Israeli President Shimon Peres showed up at Porush’s house Feb. 22 to convey his condolences to the family.
“Rabbi Porush was a man of faith and the scripture of the Torah was his foremost priority,” Peres said. “He was a Jerusalem enthusiast, determined just like one of its rocks, and acted to unite his people. He was one of Israel’s most diligent people — always active, always supportive, always helping the needy. He was soft spoken, dedicated and loyal.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also expressed his condolences. In a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s office, 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.”
Porush came from an ultra-Orthodox family and was among the leaders of the campaign in the 1980s and ’90s to close down Bar Ilan road on Saturdays. In 1999 he was one of the organizers of the mass demonstration against the High Court.
Porush’s father, the late Rabbi Moshe Glickman-Porush, was a senior haredi activist at Agudath Israel. Porush’s son Meir continued in his father’s political footsteps as Deputy Construction and Housing Minister, Deputy Education Minister and a member of Knesset on behalf of United Torah Judaism.
MK Uri Maklev of United Torah Judaism said, “[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. … He was a role model for true public activism.” — ynetnews.com