Minister slams Shalit for going to beach on Shabbat

Shas Minister Meshulam Nahari says formerly captive soldier should have gone to synagogue to pray on first Saturday after his return

Kobi Nahshoni|Published: 11.03.11 , 08:44

Shas Minister Meshulam Nahari slammed the formerly captive IDF soldier Gilad Shalit for going to the beach with his father on the first Shabbat after his return instead of going to the synagogue for prayer.

Nahari claimed that Shalit and his father should have utilized the first Saturday after he was freed from Hamas captivity to say the benediction of deliverance – a Jewish prayer of thanks traditionally said by those who survived an adversity or were released from prison.

Going to the beach. Gilad and Noam Shalit (Photo: Hagai Aharon)

The minister without portfolio, who spoke during a Shas convention earlier this week, said that the party's spiritual leader, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, has charged him with the task of bringing Shalit closer to Judaism.

According to Nahari, Yosef asked whether there is a synagogue and a mikveh in Shalit's hometown, Mitzpe Hila.

"It was very important to him to know what is going on with the spiritual life in that place," Nahari said.

The minister added that the family should come to the rabbi's home away from the eye of the media to say the benediction prayer.

"Those people should be awakened," he said.

Nahari told Shas activists that bringing people closer to Judaism is one of the party's primary goals.

"This used to be Shas' work; to go everywhere and awaken the people, instead of waiting for the people to awaken. To enrapture everyone," Nahari said.