What struck me was that thousands of chassidim were standing and the rebbe focused his attention on us and started asking us questions about the Mitla campaign of the Six-Day War. He spoke with our military attache. I don’t remember much because there was so much noise. But every once in a while he would turn to the chassidim and make with his hands to keep them going and then turn right back to us to continue the conversation.
How would you characterize the relationship between Shamir and Menachem Begin? Fine. Interestingly, though, despite the fact that Shamir would not engage in lashon hara – would not openly speak ill about anybody, even his adversaries – he once told me, “You know, Begin is not religious; it’s all an act.”
Shamir himself wasn’t religious, but he was more straight. He had respect for Torah and rabbis but couldn’t stand a rabbi who became a politician. That is why he didn’t like Agudah and Shas. Somehow it didn’t meet with his concept of a rabbi. He had a deep dislike of rabbis who entered politics. To him, politics was a dirty business and could not coexist with real authentic Torah religion.
Do you have any plans regarding the political arena in the near future? No, I tried once and it didn’t work. It’s like Yair Shamir told you a couple of weeks ago – there is no chance in the Likud Central Committee today for an ideological person to be elected. It’s all wheeling and dealing.
Would you support Yair Shamir if he decided to run?
Absolutely. He has the makings. First of all, it’s in the genes. And he has proven himself as a very successful economist. To quote the American saying, “What’s good for General Motors is good for America.?” So although usually a person has to prove himself in the political world before running for prime minister, in Yair’s case I would make an exception. He has the upbringing of his father and he is very loyal and taken up with the idea of Eretz Yisrael.
