Minister of Tourism Moshe Kol promised today that standard tourist itineraries in the future will put greater emphasis on religious aspects of life in Israel. Mr. Kol spoke at a meeting of rabbis, synagogue elders and religious lay leaders held at Hechal Shlomo, the religious center in Jerusalem. The meeting, attended by Israel’s two chief rabbis and those of Great Britain, France and South Africa, was officially described as a gathering to promote tourism.
Mr. Kol spoke in reply to allegations that many tourists complained that their tours gave no evidence that there was any religious life in Israel. He said that if rabbis from abroad wanted to demonstrate their solidarity with religious institutions in Israel, they should visit with their congregants on Sukkot or some other festival to lead a procession to the Western Wall.
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