Wilson Witzel, an ardent supporter of Israel, took office last week surrounded by several members of the local Jewish community at a ceremony in Rio’s Legislative Assembly. The non-Jewish governor of a Brazilian state was inaugurated with the sounds of a shofar blown by a rabbi.
“One of the most touching moments during my campaign was when I heard the shofar at the Beit Lubavitch synagogue. It gave me the strength I needed to carry on,” Witzel told reporters.
Witzel, 50, was elected in Oct. 2018 for a four-year term. He has pledged to fight against corruption and to clean up politics, language that is aligned with President Bolsonaro, his political godfather. Last month, Witzel spent a week in Israel to learn anti-terror techniques that can be deployed against urban violence in his home state.
“We have very similar situations. Our policemen will come to Israel to get familiar with the patrolling techniques in conflict areas, checkpoints and borders,” he said.
Witzel and his wife days ago escorted Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a visit to the Sugarloaf Mountain part of his five-day visit to Brazil, the first-ever by a sitting Israeli prime minister, according to INN.
“I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth” (Isa. 49:6, NIV).
