Israel's Minister for Pensioner Affairs Uri Orbach (Jewish Home Party) has died of a blood disease. Doctors at the Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, where Orbach had been hospitalized since January, have been struggling in recent days to save his life.
Jewish Home chairman Naftali Bennett wrote on his Facebook page, "My older brother has left me. Uri was both humorous and serious, a man of wisdom and integrity, of courage and vision. Uri was able to forge an ideological path with persistence and grace, diligence, limitless self-awareness and never-ending personal charm. Uri's books gave joy to children, made their parents laugh with his wisdom, and brought parents old age with honor. He raised generations of young people, and showed them that their dream was possible. Generations of religiously observant and non-observant people learned from him that they could connect with each other.
"He was a man with unlimited love for the Land of Israel and the Jewish people, and the Jewish people loved him in return. No one in the cynical and cold world of politics was as beloved as Uri. I'll miss him a lot. I have lost a true friend today, a friend in hard times and in times of joy, a man to consult and a man to laugh with. I have lost a friend without whom I would not be here today. I give my consolations to his wife, Michal, and his four children. We'll continue on Uri's path, and it will be much harder and sadder without him."
Orbach, 54, was a Knesset member for the past six years, and a minister during the last Knesset. He was an author, journalist, publicist, satirist, radio broadcaster, and one of the most prominent and well-loved figures in religious Zionism. He was a pioneer in religious journalism in Israel, and one of the leading figures urging religious Zionists to work in the media. He is survived by a wife and four children.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on February 16, 2015
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