Akko Mayor Survives Shooting

By COLlive reporter

Mayor of Akko Shimon Lankry did a Mitzvah hours before he was shot in the chest and only moderately injured this past Thursday.

Many residents believe it was his annual visit before Pesach to the offices of Chabad Rabbi Nosson Yitzchok Oirechman that has spared his life.

Mayor of the city in the Western Galilee region of northern Israel, Lankry came to the rabbi to receive his blessings for the holiday.

Accompanied by the city manager Ehud Segev and head of the education department Yossi Luzon, the Mayor put on Tefillin in honor of the Rebbe’s 111th birthday on Friday.

He promised his continued assistance to the local Chabad institutions and activities and asked for a blessing, which Rabbi Oirechman gladly granted.

Hours later, as the Mayor was driving in his vehicle near Kfar Yasif, an Arab town, he was shot.

According to the Jerusalem Post, Lankry was able to call an ambulance to transport him to hospital in Nahariya.

The hospital said that his condition was stable, he was conscious and his life was not in danger. Police are investigating the motive for the shooting.

Police Insp.-Gen. Yohanan Danino promised to place the issue of violence towards mayors at the top of the police’s priorities.

“The Mayor was miraculously saved thanks to the many blessings he was given from the Rebbe’s Shluchim,” members of the local Chabad community noted.

They also pointed out that the Mayor received Shmura Matzah during his visit. “Matzah is the Hebrew acronym of “mikol tzarah hitzilani,” they said referring to Psalm 54:7 (“You have delivered me from all my troubles.”)

Rabbi Oirechman asked the public to pray for the health and speedy recovery of Shimon ben Chana.