It feels like a death in the family

I'm referring to Tzachi Hanegbi's announcement that he was leaving the Likud and joining Arik Sharon's Kadima. For us, Tzachi's parents, Emanuel Hanegbi, Z"L, and Geula Cohen, one of the greatest women in Israeli history, have always been like close family. And we took pride in watching Tzachi's early political successes, from his days as student leader and opposition to the destruction of Yamit. And when we saw his precocious rise in the Likud party, it was like seeing a young cousin make a success out of himself.

My all-time favorite election ad was the TV one for the Likud, when Tzachi spoke, saying how people tell him that they love his mother want to vote for her T'chiya Party, and then Tzachi said:

"I also love my mother, but vote Likud."

I voted T'chiya, but I got a real kick out of hearing Tzachi announce on Israeli TV that he loved his mother.

We were at his wedding and other smachot.

In recent years I was upset to hear of his legal problems, the accusations of corruption. I kept trying to find excuses. I kept hoping that he was a true son of his parents, who had both been in the Lechi, Stern Gang, underground fighters against the British occupation of our Land.

This past year I finally admitted the truth. Tzachi is just an opportunist politician, with neither ideals nor morals. I'd see him on TV, devoid of the fire and idealism he once had. It saddened me. I feel so sorry for his mother, Geula, a fighter for Eretz Yisrael.

May G-d give her strength, and G-d willing, may her strength and idealism be inherited by her grandsons.