Bayit Yehudi minister Uri Orbach battling life-threatening illness
54-year-old pensioners minister suffering from serious blood disorder; took temporary leave from his duties two weeks ago in consultation with PM.
There has been a significant deterioration in the health of Bayit Yehudi Minister Uri Orbach, who is hospitalized in Jerusalem with doctors fighting for his life.
Two weeks ago, the government announced a temporary absence for the 54-year-old minister for pensioner affairs, who suffers from a serious blood condition. The family said at the time that Orbach's continuing medical treatment prevented him from discharging his duties, and therefore the prime minister decided in coordination with them to transfer his ministerial responsibilities to Economy Minister Naftali Bennett.
The family has asked supporters to continue to pray for his recovery, and expressed gratitude Sunday for the love and care shown to him. The family has also asked people not to visit and to refrain from spreading rumors. President Reuven Rivlin visited Orbach on Sunday at the capital's Shaare Zedek Medical Center.
Orbach experienced a sudden and life-threatening decline last month, several days after the Bayit Yehudi primaries. "I have to devote myself to urgent and vital treatment for my health," wrote the minister on his Facebook page at the time. "Thank you for your prayers and your concern. Please avoid visiting or spreading rumors".
A week later, Orbach's mother Penina died, and Orbach himself could not attend the funeral or to leave the hospital to sit shiva. And on Monday his condition further worsened.
Orbach, a journalist by profession, for many years wrote for religious newspapers, and for 13 years penned a weekly column for "Yediot Ahronot", as well as being a columnist for Ynet's Judaism channel.
He joined political life in 2008; in 2009 he was placed third on the Bayit Yehudi list and was elected to the Knesset. In June 2012, he was released from hospital after a month-long stay. In March 2013, he was appointed Minister of Pensioner Affairs in the new government formed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
