How Rabbi Lazar Surprised Bibi

By COLlive reporter

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who came to Russia to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, sent a virtual prayer note through the “Western Wall” display shown at the new educational exhibition, which he inaugurated, in front of the Kremlin in central Moscow.

At the entrance to the exhibition set up by the Israeli Embassy in Russia, marking 25 years since the renewal of relations between Israel and Russia, stands a model of the “Western Wall” which was set up by the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia.

The notes with prayer requests are sent to Jerusalem where a representative of the Jewish community will pray at the only remaining wall of our Holy Temple on behalf of the sender from Moscow.

Netanyahu thanked the initiator of the “Western Wall” exhibit, Russia’s Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar, for the important project.

“Thank you for the warm welcome, we definitely feel at home. Israel’s doors are open to Russia and Russia’s doors are open to Israel,” Netanyahu added. “We are marking 25 years to the renewal of relations between us, and they are not limited to culture and technology alone. In addition, there is a human bridge of over one million Russian speakers who have become our flesh and blood, but are also ambassadors of goodwill, Israeli citizens who are immigrants from the Former Soviet Union.”

A highlight of the visit was when Netanyahu was given a copy of a letter that the Lubavitcher Rebbe wrote to him on Rosh Chodesh Sivan, exactly 28 year ago.

In the letter, the Rebbe addresses Netanyahu as “one who has done much for the needs of the public, especially in defense of the land of Israel’s affairs.”

The special letter was presented by the Kfar Chabad weekly magazine to Rabbi Lazar, ahead of publication in the upcoming issue. The editor, Menachem Cohen, devoted his weekly column to the story of the letter and the response of the Prime Minister.

Presented below is a free translation of the letter:

“It’s precious to me, it’s dear to me,” Netanyahu responded in amazement while holding on to the letter as soon as Rabbi Lazar finished reading it.

“The things that the Rebbe wrote to me, the Rebbe’s blessings, are very important to me. Especially now, before my meeting with President Putin”, he added.

His wife, Sara Netanyahu, who asked for some explanation about the letter’s context, received a detailed account, with the Prime Minister listening closely to every word.

It was difficult for Netanyahu to part with the letter and he held it in his hands for a while even As the exhibition tour continued as planned.

At one point, he was seen putting on his reading glasses and reading the letter again, poring over every word. Upon his assistant’s request to take the letter from his hands, Netanyahu responded: “Bring it to Israel, I want this to be in my office.”