President Herzog Inaugurates Center Honoring Rabbi Amitai, Calls for Unity

President Isaac Herzog attended the official inauguration ceremony for the Rabbi Amitai Center, established in memory of Rabbi Yehuda Amitai, a founder and long-time head of the Har Etzion yeshiva, held Thursday in Alon Shvut. The center aims to bridge the world of Torah study with contemporary Israeli society, addressing issues of Jewish identity, religion-state relations, and national challenges.

During his visit, President Herzog met with yeshiva leaders, including Rabbi Yaakov Medan, Rabbi Baruch Gigi, and Rabbi Moshe Lichtenstein, and learned about the center's planned activities. He then addressed attendees, including Knesset members Moshe Solomon and Moshe Kinley Tor-Paz, Gush Etzion Regional Council head Yaron Rosenthal, and members of Rabbi Amitai's family.

In his speech, President Herzog emphasized the importance of unity, stating, "The Torah from which we drink must connect us, unite us, and not, God forbid, separate us." He urged attendees to emulate Rabbi Amitai's legacy of peace and love for the people, land, and Torah, asserting, "Only in the unity of Israel will we complete the task! Only in the unity of Israel is there a future for the building of the people, the land, and the Torah!"

Rabbi Beni Lehman, head of the Rabbi Amitai Center, highlighted the contributions of the yeshiva's graduates and their commitment to the Zionist and spiritual mission of the Jewish people. He cautioned against prioritizing one value exclusively, stating, "Improper means can defile the goal."

Rabbi Baruch Gigi, head of the Har Etzion yeshiva, noted that the yeshiva has opened "windows to the public square" in various fields over its 60 years, and the new center represents further expansion. Rabbi Amitai, a Holocaust survivor, founded the political party Meimad and briefly served as a minister in the Peres government after the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin.