For years they worked together for the good of the public in the legislative building, side by side, the departed one who passed away last night, HaRav Shlomo Lorincz z’l and yebadil l’chaim tovim HaRav Menachem Porush shlit’a.
“Just as they have different faces, so too they have different opinions,” HaRav Porush is accustomed to say, and also in the present context. But the strong personal connection that existed between the two was stronger than one political issue or another.

In a conversation with Etrog, R. Menachem reminisces about earlier days and laments tearfully over the great loss: “Thirty-five years we worked together, side by side, shoulder to shoulder. We did our shelichut with faithfulness while completely loyal to the Gedolei Yisrael. The pain of his sudden departure is very deep. It’s hard for me think about it. It’s hard for me.”

When did you speak together for the last time?

“Reb Shlomo called me two days ago about the issue of Chinuch Atzmai and brought me up to date of his intentions. Among the things he told me was that we must continue what the Gedolei Yisrael instructed in this matter.”
It's no secret that you had a division of opinions.

“Indeed. We are not the same in our opinions, just as our faces are not the same. But although the patterns of our actions were different the goal was the same: to benefit the world of Torah. We fought like lions on the Yeshivah budget. And we had another goal: to preserve the Jewish spark in Israel as much as possible.”

Were there good results in that area?

“Baruch Hashem. In those objectives we were met with considerable success. In the past it was hard to find so many batei knessiot and batei midrashot, yeshivot and kollelim filled to the brim with people learning Torah of all ages as we see today. What was foremost in our minds was finding solutions rather than the battles themselves, while all our endeavors were under the guidance of Gedolei Yisrael. And that was the secret of success.”

What good leadership conduct can be learned from Reb Shlomo ztz’l to our public servants today?

“We never excommunicated the State. We never closed the door in the face of our secular opponents. Rather, we worked together to survive by their side. This is the message that all members of parliament should adopt today. Not to fight the State but to know how to preserve the chareidi public along side it.”

The levayah was held Monday afternoon in Jerusalem.

Baruch Dayan HaEmet.