Miri Regev, the Minister of Sport and Culture, publicized that she had been davening for Gerbi to win and had moments before Gerbi's victory sent a sms message to a rabbi, Rabbi Netanel Shriki, in which she said how important it is to win the medal and hear the national anthem and that she is praying for a victory.
Regev doesn't explicitly ask him to add his own prayers, but that seems to be implied that she is looking for a blessing or his own prayers as well.
Sure enough, Gerbi won her match shortly after, and won her gold medal.
source: Kikar
I think Miri Regev should be fired. Regev was derelict in her duties. Why did she not care enough about all the other athletes under her responsibility and pray for them as well? Why did she not send messages to the rabbi on behalf of each one of them? Israel would have a few more medals, and maybe even a silver or gold, if she would just take her responsibility seriously!
just kidding.
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