Finance Minister and Religious Zionist Party leader Bezalel Smotrich spoke to Channel 7 at the “B’chol Levavkha” conference in Jerusalem, saying the event gives participants spiritual strength and reflects the values of the national-religious public. He said, “The heart expands,” adding that he always feels disappointed he cannot clear a full day to come and “recharge.”
Smotrich called the gathering remarkable because it has been held for 14 straight years, beginning in Ramat Gan, then moving to the Ganei HaTa’arucha exhibition grounds, and now to the Binyanei HaUma convention center, where “masses” are attending. In his view, this shows that “the strength we draw from the Torah” is what sustains the movement.
He linked the renewed spiritual energy to the connection between Torah and daily life. “Torah that is connected to life has to be one that awakens and gladdens the heart,” he said, adding that when people come to the Land of Israel, “they feel the sanctity,” and there is a major revival of inner Torah study in Religious Zionist yeshivot, with deep learning, service of God, joy, and Hasidic spirit.
Addressing criticism of the religious Zionist community, Smotrich said the event gives “life, joy, and the ability to stand firm,” and argued that critics are often worried because they have not tried this path themselves. He urged broader parts of the public to experience it, saying it brings light, values, morality, and good to individuals, families, the nation, and the State of Israel. He concluded that those present live out “with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your might” through settlement, Torah, education, war, community building, and the economy, giving everything they have to serve as “soldiers and messengers” of God.
