Send Page to a Friend 'Praying for a miracle' Metro by Greg St. Martin January 6-8, 2006 Boston - As news spread of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's deteriorating health, concerned Jewish community leaders in the Boston area expressed optimism and hope that the situation will turn for the better an not disrupt the peace process in the Middle East. Meir Shlomo, consulate general of Israel to New England, said he last met with Sharon late last year. Born in Tel Aviv, Israel, Shlomo had previously worked as a public-relations strategist in Israel's Foreign Ministry alongside Sharon, who was appointed Foreign Minister in 1998. 'Very Sensitive' "When you get to know him personally, what comes out quickly is that the man has a lot of empathy, he's very warm to people, he's very respectful and unlike his image as a tough general, he's a very sensitive person," Shlomo said. Shlomo wouldn't speculate about how Sharon's condition would affect the Middle East, saying only that he has been an integral part of the peace process in the last few years. Last year, Sharon ordered a unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. But with less than three months before the country's elections, some have questioned how Sharon's health will affect peace negotiations in the region. though, according to Nancy Kaufman, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council, there is no reason to expect the policies of Israel's government to change. "I take great comfort in that Israel is a democracy, and has transitioned its leadership [to acting Prime Minister Ehud Elmer]," said Kaufman, adding that both Sharon and Olmert, both of the Kadima political party, "are very experienced, very savvy political leaders." "We're all thinking about what happened to Ariel Sharon, and we're praying for a miracle recovery," she said.