Who is 'the secret talisman of Moshe Katsav in Ma'asiyahu prison?

Division 8 in Ma'asiyahu Prison, prisoner number 1418989, Moshe Katsav, ending his first year.

Yediot Ahronot this week devoted an extensive article about the former president's survival within the prison, as he refuses to accept the verdict and tries hard to fight against his imprisonment.

"The prisoners say," it says, "that the secret talisman of Katzav and the one who strengthened him mentally throughout the past year, is his spiritual mentor Harav Benayahu Shmueli. "

Acquaintances of Harav Benayahu Shmueli, who is considered one of the most prominent rabbis of the Sephardi public, and the head of Yeshivat Nahar Shalom in Nachlaot, Jerusalem and who works extensively spreading the teachings of the Zohar, said that since Katzav was imprisoned, he calls the Rav least once a week. "It does not always happen at times convenient to the Rav since he also teaches and gives classes, so if Katzav can not get hold of him, he talks with one of his assistants, and sends the message through him."

• How does the Rav strengthen him?

"With words, prayers and blessings. A person is in trouble, it does not matter what he did, or did not," says the associate of the Rav. "It's a mitzvah to strengthen him. Katzav's story is a harsh one: how from the highest class, as president, he fell way to the bottom. Katzav requires explanations and often the Rav has no answers. He can only comfort him, telling him that everything is from Heaven."

• What is tell about the prison?

"This is a section for the religious, so of course there is no TV there. There are Hareidi newspapers which arrive for those who have subscribed. There is a Midrasha there, and Katzav is a participant in classes. He says he writes, reads a lot, talks a lot with GIla and family members and also studies Torah. Katzav wears a kippa from the first day he got there and is wearing a Tzitzis. He is getting stronger there. "

Dudi Appel, Haredi businessman who entered prison a short time ago, has become one of the friends of the former president. "While Apple does not live with Katzav in the same room," says attorney David Mena, "he is still in the same division and they meet and talk. They have a mutual respect for each other. "

The extensive article in the paper shows, from conversations with inmates and associates of Katzav, that he refused to accept what is happening to him. "He did not lift a finger beyond what is necessary, he does not volunteer to teach, to give lectures and to contribute his knowledge to the prisoners, or even to help in the library."

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!