Early 2012, a few weeks after my marriage, and one of the Knesset letters announces that the spokesman for the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Interior and then-Shas Chairman, MK Eli Yishai, is ending his work.
I thought about a professional springboard from where I was working at the time, but after thinking about it, I came to the conclusion: I may not have enough experience, the kippah on my head is certainly not the right size and color, and I am Ashkenazi - data that certainly will not contribute to the competition for such a sought-after position.
I consulted with the woman next to me, several media people and relatives from the field, and they told me: "You are suitable, you have experience, and at most they will tell you - 'no'.".
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I showed up - and was accepted.
Ashkenazi, a knitted kippa rivaled only by Bennett's kippa in size. Not exactly the Shas "typecast," was accepted to work with the Shas chairman.
I am not the son of a rabbi, not the grandson of a rebbe, and I had no connections on HaKablan Street. But as mentioned, I was accepted.
I knew a man for whom any connection between what the general media tries to portray him as and the reality on the ground is as far apart as East from West.
I knew a man who, early in the morning, enters the office and asks what is going on, and if he hears a subtle hesitation in the response or understands that the answer given is incomplete, he stops and asks until the matter is clarified. I knew a man for whom humility and modesty are the lamp to his feet, and only the determination of the times for Torah that he sets for himself each day surpasses them.
I knew a person who, contrary to what people think of elected officials, with their cigars in their mouths and the standard of the hotels they stay in, or the "renovations" they have made to their homes, for him the reality is not only non-existent - it is also unknown.
And I also learned, I did learn - things you see from here are not seen from there. That dialogue is always preferable to raising your hand and voice, and that not everything that seems so clear and right is actually so, and sometimes things are more complex and profound than who is "for" or "against.".
I knew a man who doesn't seek to count how many "Sephardim" there are here or there, but rather seeks to open doors for those who weren't given the opportunity, even if they didn't swear to vote for him.
And I learned another important thing: even if some of the Haredim don't loudly declare themselves to be Zionists, they are Zionists in every way. If Zionism is the love of the land and the longing to see it built and flourish, then Shas, led by Eli Yishai, was no less Zionist and Israeli than any other party, if not more so!
I knew a man who saw his role as a tool for only one purpose - to act for the public and the state.
•
End of Operation Pillar of Defense.
I've only been working with MK Eli Yishai for a few weeks (I still call him "the Minister" in every conversation - even when we're alone), and he calls me about one matter or another. During the conversation, which drags on, I tell him: "Minister, I really apologize, but I can get back to you later. My father just returned from the reserves, Operation Pillar of Defense, and I haven't seen him in a long time.".
The "minister" answers me: "Bring me your father!""
What? Why? I have no idea.
""Dad, Minister Eli Yishai wants you," during a conversation that lasted several minutes, my boss thanked my father for his service to the country, while showing interest and asking questions, and going down to the "smallest" details.
I don't know what the future holds for MK Eli Yishai, but there is one thing I do know: Eli Yishai at the center of decision-making is an asset to the people of Israel! I know that the ultra-Orthodox, religious, traditional public, lovers of this country, need Eli Yishai.
Even those who disagree with his path and positions will not be able to dispute that he is a person who acts in the name of belief in the righteousness of the path and is free from any irrelevant interests.
Eli, good luck - because your success is our success.
• The writer served as Eli Yishai's communications advisor until a few months ago.
