Perilous
Times
Israel: Netanyahu begins hosting a regular Bible Study group
in his official residence.
By HERB KEINON
12/10/2011 23:24
Taking a page out of Ben-Gurion and Begin’s playbook, PM will
begin hosting a regular Bible group in his official residence.
Taking a page out of David Ben-Gurion and Menachem Begin’s
playbook, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will begin hosting a
regular Bible study group in his official residence for
researchers, public officials and invited guests.
Netanyahu announced the establishment of the study circle on
Friday at a ceremony marking 30 days since the passing of his
father-in-law, Shmuel Ben-Artzi. The study group will be named
after Ben-Artzi, a noted poet and Bible teacher.
Both Ben-Gurion and Begin, when they each served as prime
minister, hosted regular Bible study groups.
Netanyahu said he was establishing the class to perpetuate love of
the Bible.
Last Sunday, at a ceremony in Sde Boker marking the 38th
anniversary of Ben-Gurion’s death, Netanyahu recalled the first
premier’s Bible study class, saying that his father-in-law used to
attend.
“Ben-Gurion understood that the Book of Books is our mandate for
our country, as he said in that same unforgettable statement
before the Peel Commission in 1936,” Netanyahu said. “He viewed
the Bible as the wondrous story of the Jewish people, the unique
spiritual, cultural and historic heritage of our people, and also
as one of the cornerstones of all of human culture.”