When Rabbi Rimon Met Israeli Superstar Noa Kirel On Flight, He Asked Her ‘Who Is Noa? Why Is She Congratulated?’

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Rabbi Yosef Tzvi (Yatz) Rimon must surely be one of the busiest people in Israel. Just naming the myriad projects he is involved in and has accomplished in the past could fill an entire article. An accomplished writer and pedagogue, Rabbi Rimon has written more than 20 books on halachic topics, utilizing diagrams and other innovative methods to make the concepts clearer and more accessible.

That alone would be enough to fill one person’s time, but Rabbi Rimon has also opened Sulamot, an educational initiative both for children and adults which uses fresh methods “to create immersive Jewish educational experiences that inspire while providing the tools to access relevant, meaningful, and empowering Jewish content.”

Part of this method has involved the Ratzim La’Mishnah and Ratzim La’Gmara projects, using actors to create situations and movie skits which simulate the Mishnah and Gemara’s eternal lessons. The results are nothing short of spectacular, as this author has seen otherwise uninspired children, both boys and girls, glued to the Talmudic debates as they are presented on screen with Rabbi Rimon’s engaging commentaries.

If this is not enough, Rabbi Rimon holds two demanding roles as regional rabbi of the entire Gush Etzion area, comprising thousands of families who consult with him on communal issues. Besides this he also heads the Beit Midrash at Jerusalem College of Technology (Machon Lev) where he teaches shiurim on a daily basis.

When 10,000 people lost their homes and jobs after they were evicted from Gush Katif in 2005, the shell-shocked families stayed for a while in hotels awaiting an uncertain future. Into the hotels came Rabbi Rimon with his Taasukatif initiative, raising tens of millions of shekels to enable the evacuees to rejuvenate their businesses and find new employment. The incredibly successful achievement earned a President’s Award for Rabbi Rimon.

Amazingly, the genial rabbi still seems to find time to answer questions (responding to Whatsapps as well) and to engage people in conversation. Finding himself on a flight this week to Israel, the rabbi noticed that there were signs everywhere declaring “Kol Hakavod Le’Noa” (Congratulations to Noa). Turning to the young woman sitting near him, he asked her innocently who is Noa. The woman answered proudly that “I am Noa.” The rabbi asked her why everyone was congratulating her. Despite being surrounded by modern, savvy youth, the rabbi had never heard of 22-year-old Noa Kirel, nor of her successful performance in the Eurovision Song contest a few days ago. [Parenthetically, VINnews patently avoided the topic of the contest, which involved an extremely immodest display by the Israeli team.]

At this point Kirel proudly stated that her grandfather had been a rabbi and sofer stam. She added that she said the Birkot Hashachar (morning blessings) on the day of the Eurovision competition and did not open her phone on Shabbat- a significant statement given her huge popularity in the days prior to the competition.

רב גוש עציון הרב יוסף צבי רימון שאל את הנוסעת לידו בטיסה מאנגליה אם היא יודעת מי זו נעה שכולם מריעים לה. היא השיבה: "זו אני". pic.twitter.com/D34Kbtfpv0

— יהונתן גוטליב (@yonatanGottlieb) May 15, 2023

Hearing that Rabbi Rimon is a rabbi who would be willing to answer her halachic queries like anyone else, Kirel asked for his number and – typically- asked to take a selfie with him. As always, Rabbi Rimon was willing to do a favor for a Jew, little realizing how viral the picture would go within minutes.

As one journalist later put it “I’m jealous of you, Rabbi Rimon, that you are so involved in your spiritual pursuits, you didn’t even know who she was. In truth you didn’t meet her, Rabbi Rimon, she met you, as yours is much greater than hers. In a proper world, it would be your name on the screens and she would ask about your name and actions and might even know them. Maybe she will understand in the future, who knows what was born in this innocent meeting in the business class compartment of a plane.”