President Herzog Opens Haredi School Year, Joins Talmud Study

President Isaac Herzog inaugurated the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) school year with a special visit to the "Tiferet Yehuda" and "Ateret Shlomo" Talmud Torah schools in Kiryat Ye'arim on Monday. The visit coincided with the 50th anniversary of the town's founding.

During his visit, President Herzog met with students, participated in a Gemara (Talmudic text) study session, and shared personal stories. At the "Tiferet Yehuda" school, students welcomed him with song. He then proceeded to "Ateret Shlomo," where he engaged with the students and joined their studies.

Herzog blessed the students and educational staff, wishing them a successful and productive year. He recounted a story about his grandfather, Rabbi Isaac Herzog, who was a prominent rabbi and also held a doctorate in marine biology, emphasizing that there is no contradiction between faith and science. He also shared his grandfather's efforts to rescue Jewish children hidden in monasteries after the Holocaust.

Responding to a student's question about his wish for the people of Israel, Herzog called for "love of Israel and unity of Israel, fewer arguments, fewer disturbances, and much more mutual respect."

The president concluded his visit by attending an event celebrating Kiryat Ye'arim's 50th anniversary, where he addressed residents and founders, highlighting the town's dedication to education based on Jewish tradition and its historical significance, including its proximity to the site where the Torah was given and its role in the War of Independence. He also visited the memorial for General David Marcus, commander of the Jerusalem front in the War of Independence, planting a tree in his memory and sharing reflections from his father, former President Chaim Herzog's, diary about Marcus.