Search Results for “degel” – The Yeshiva World

HaGaon HaRav Landau Adds 3 New Members To Vaadas HaRabbanim Of Degel HaTorah

April 3, 2024 6:30 pm 1 Comment

Over eight years ago, HaGaon HaRav Yehudah Leib Shteinman, z’tl, established a Vaadas Rabbanim of Degel HaTorah order to serve as an advisory board to municipality representatives and neighborhood askanim. HaGaon HaRav Yosef Efrati was appointed to the board along with Rosh Yeshivas Chevron HaGaon HaRav Dovid Cohen and Rosh Yeshivas Toras Ze’ev HaGaon HaRav Baruch Soloveitchik. However, HaRav Soloveitchik moved his yeshivah and place of residence to Ramat Beit Shemesh several years ago, leaving only two members on the board. In recent days, HaGaon HaRav Dov Landau made a decision to add three new Rabbanim to the board from three different neighborhoods, Kikar H’Shabbat reported. The Rabbanim who were appointed to the board are HaGaon HaRav Yisrael Goelman, a renowned posek, the Rav of Kehillas Shaarei Tevunah in Ramot and the head of the Bnos Elisheva high school for girls, HaGaon HaRav Tzvi Weber, a Rav in Neve Yaakov and one of the Rabbanim of the Badatz Shearis Yisrael, and HaGaon HaRav Avraham Weg, a Rav in Bayit Vegan. The first meeting of the expanded board was held at the home of HaRav Cohen on Monday evening. A a letter from HaGaon HaRav Landua was read, stating that the newly expanded Vaad will be headed by HaRav Efrati and HaRav Cohen and that “all the inyanim of Degel HaTorah in Yerushalayim will be conducted according to them and in particular regarding the shemirah of Yahadus and its character. They should be zohech to siyata dishmaya in all their actions to increase kavod Shamayim.” The Rabbanim then met with the Degel HaTorah representatives in the Jerusalem municipality to discuss the needs of the public for the upcoming term. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Degel HaTorah Candidate Wins Beit Shemesh: Shmulik Greenberg Defeats Aliza Bloch

March 11, 2024 1:30 pm 5 Comments

A second round of municipal elections took place on Sunday in cities and yishuvim where none of the candidates won enough votes (40%) to declare victory in the first round of elections last month. As expected, Shmulik Greenberg, the Degel HaTorah candidate in Beit Shemesh, defeated the incumbent mayor Aliza Bloch by a large margin, becoming the mayor of the city for the next five years. After Shas candidate Moshe Abutbul lost to Bloch in the first round, all the Chareidi parties, including Shas, unified around Greenberg. Greenberg, who served in the IDF and has a master’s degree in public policy from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a bachelor’s degree in law from Ono Academic College, served as the deputy mayor of Beit Shemesh from 2008-2020, resigning from the position when he was appointed the head of the Chareidi educational department in the Jerusalem Municipality in 2020. In his victory speech after midnight on Sunday, Greenberg first requested to recite Tehillim for the return of the hostages and for the refuah of those wounded in the war, as seen in the video below: Greenberg then said: “We’re here in the zechus of Maran Rosh HaYeshivah HaGaon HaRav Dov Landau, Maran Rosh HaYeshivah HaGaon HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, the Rabbanim of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Degel HaTorah and the chevrei Chachmei HaTorah of Shas.” “I owe a great deal of gratitude to my friend and partner, the chairman of Shlomei Emunim, Minister Meir Porush, for his support along the way. We achieved victory thanks to our partnership with Shlomei Emunim and Machzeikei HaDas.” Greenberg promised to work in unity with all sectors in the city and thanked the outgoing mayor for her service. Bloch called Greenberg to congratulate him on his victory and offer her assistance in the handover process and the two agreed to meet soon. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

BREAKTHROUGH: Degel HaTorah & Belz On Verge Of Deal Allowing Joint Run

September 12, 2022 3:30 pm 4 Comments

After weeks of uncertainty regarding the future of the partnership between Degel HaTorah and Agudas Yisrael, a breakthrough was reached on Monday, paving the way to a joint run. The dispute in question was the plan of the Belzer chassidus to sign an agreement with the government that will provide their Talmudei Torah with funding in accordance with the number of hours they spend teaching secular subjects. HaRav HaGaon Gershon Edelstein, who is adamantly opposed to any government intervention into Chareidi chinuch, would not agree to partner with Belz if they implemented the Education Ministry’s plan. Former prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu tried to solve the crisis by promising to provide equal funding for Chareidi schools that don’t teach core curriculum studies if he manages to form a government. However, the Belzer Rebbe wanted a solution for a scenario in which Netanyahu does not manage to form a government or if he does but he and Moshe Gafni cannot provide the promised funding due to legal issues. On Monday, a breakthrough occurred when HaRav Edelstein approved the signing of a guarantee that if Netanyahu does not form a government, a legal solution for funding will be found for Belzer mosdos. If not, their largest Talmud Torah will be incorporated into the Chinuch Atzmai network [currently, almost all schools in the Chinuch Atzmai network are girls’ schools] and the others will be funded through the Bnei Yosef network of Shas. A source involved in the negotiations told Chareidim10: “Moshe Gafni and Aryeh Deri promise to provide a budget for Belz that is equal to that of Chinuch Atzmai [if Netanyahu forms a government]. If a coalition isn’t formed or they fail in obtaining the budget, some of Belzer mosdos will be incorporated into the Bnei Yosef network of Shas and the main Talmud Torah of Belz will be incorporated into Chinuch Atzmai.” The source added that the reason that the mosdos will be split between Chinuch Atzmai and Bnei Yosef is that for technical reasons, the Belzer schools can only be incorporated into Bnei Yosef in another year. Incorporation into Chinuch Atzmai could begin this year. “Therefore we’re taking the largest cheder in Belz, which has about half of the children educated in their mosdos, and incorporating it into Chinuch Atzmai – which means they’ll receive half of their budget already this year.” When the details of the agreement are finished being hammered out, MK Eichler will bring it to the Belzer Rebbe for his approval. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

HaGaon Edelstein To Degel HaTorah MKs: “Netanyahu Shouldn’t Interfere”

August 29, 2022 3:30 pm 5 Comments

In recent days, opposition leader Binyamin Netanyahu has been making efforts to solve the continuing crisis between Degal HaTorah and Agudas Yisrael, with Degel HaTorah’s threat of running independently from Agudas Yisrael still looming. Netanyahu is very worried as polls predict that if the two parties run independently, Agudas Yisrael won’t succeed in passing the threshold, which will end up wasting right-wing votes and harming Netanyahu’s chances of forming a government. On Sunday night, Netanyahu met with Agudas Yisrael’s new Gerrer representative Yitzchak Goldknopf and last week he meet with Belzer representative Meir Porush. According to a Yisrael Hayom report on Monday morning, Netanyahu also tried to arrange a meeting with Degel HaTorah MKs but HaGaon HaRav Gershon Edelstein instructed them not to meet the former prime minister. The Rosh Yeshivah sent a message to the MKs saying that Netanyahu should not interfere with the dispute between Degel HaTorah and Agudas Yisrael. Those close to the Rosh Yeshivah said that Netanyahu’s intervention can only be harmful since the issues stem from an ideological dispute regarding chinuch and are not politically based. As YWN reported last month, the major issue that may lead to a split between Degal HaTorah and Agudas Yisrael is an agreement between the Belzer chassidus and the state to increase the hours spent on math and English in its chedarim in exchange for increased government funding. HaRav Edelstein is fervently opposed to any state involvement in Chareidi chinuch and is extremely concerned over possible future implications of the deal to all strata of Chareidi society. However, the two parties scheduled a date to begin negotiations on a joint run based on the understanding that Belz would not carry through with the agreement, and an alternative solution would be found for the chassidus in a new government as a threshold condition for entering it. But last week, the Education Ministry published an official announcement about its agreement with Belz, which caused a huge uproar and the cancellation of negotiations, upon the instructions of the Rosh Yeshivah. A Degel HaTorah MK told Kikar H’Shabbat that HaRav Edelstein said that the independence of Chareidi chinuch cannot be placed at risk. “Achdus is an important thing but not at this price,” the Rosh Yeshivah said. The plan bases the budget of chadarim on the number of classes in Hebrew, math and English. Additionally, ominous clauses in the plan cede control of the enforcement of the plan to the Education Ministry and essentially cedes control of the chadarim that sign the agreement to the Education Ministry. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Is Degel HaTorah On The Way To A Split With Agudas Yisrael?

July 25, 2022 9:00 pm 13 Comments

There are increasing rumors in recent days that Degel HaTorah may split off from Agudas Yisrael and run for the next Knesset independently. UTJ chairman Moshe Gafni even visited HaGaon HaRav Gershon Edelstein in the hospital to discuss the issue with the Gadol HaDor. HaRav Edelstein is Baruch Hashem recovered and feeling well and was released from the hospital on Monday afternoon. There are several reasons why Gafni is seriously considering splitting from Agudas Yisrael, despite very real fears that a split will drastically decrease Chareidi representation in the Knesset as polls show that Agudas Yisrael will not pass the electoral threshold if it runs independently. The main reason is a recent agreement that the Belzer chassidus formed with the State to increase the hours spent on math and English in its chedarim in exchange for increased government funding. HaRav Edelstein is fervently opposed to any State involvement in Chareidi chinuch and is extremely concerned over possible future implications of the agreement to all stripes of Chareidi society. An additional issue is a dispute over UTJ’s leadership and the representation on the party list. An agreement by the two parties rotates the leadership of UTJ, which means that an Agudas Yisrael representative will lead the party in the next Knesset. However, since UTJ sat in the opposition in the past Knesset, which also lasted for only a brief period of time, Gafni is insisting that the leadership remain with Degel HaTorah for the next Knesset. Additionally, the makeup of the Chareidi sector has changed over the years, with studies showing that Degel HaTorah voters outnumber Agudas Yisrael voters, When UTJ was first formed, the ratio was set as 60-40 in favor of Agudas Yisrael. In 2019, the ratio was adjusted to 50-50 and now Gafni wants the ratio adjusted to 60-40 in favor of Degel HaTorah in reflection of the new demographics. A large gathering of all members of Degel HaTorah in the Knesset and municipal authorities is being held on Tuesday on the occasion of the tenth yahrzeit of HaGaon HaRav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, z’tl. One of the panels at the conference will focus on the future of Degel HaTorah, during which a possible split is expected to be discussed – not only in the Knesset but in a number of municipalities as well. However, contrary to the above reports, Degel HaTorah MK Yaakov Asher on Monday morning denied rumors that Degel HaTorah is considering a split from Agudas Yisrael. In an interview with Kol B’Ramah, Asher said: “No one has a goal of running separately, there was never such an intention. There are essential issues that have been presented to the Gedolei HaDor and a discussion is taking place, but there are no threats here.” “There are media outlets that publish leaks and stories and that’s okay. Otherwise, what would they do in the 120 days until the elections?” Asher joked. “I’m saying that no one has a reason to run separately. There are issues to clarify and when they’re clarified, everything will be b’seder.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Degel HaTorah Chairman Moshe Gafni Undergoes Heart Catheterization

August 16, 2020 1:00 pm No Comments

Chairman of Degel HaTorah and Finance Committee chairman Moshe Gafni underwent a heart catheterization in Maanyei HaYeshua Hospital in Bnei Brak on Motzei Shabbos “B’Chasdei Shamayim, the treatment was successful and he currently feels excellent,” Gafni’s office spokesperson stated. Gafni, 68, will remain in the hospital and then at home for several days in order to rest following the procedure. Gafni is a veteran member of the Knesset, having served there since 1988. Since 2009, apart from two years when he was part of the opposition, he has served as the chairman of the Finance Committee. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Degel Hatorah Reaches Out To English-Speaking Voters With Op-Ed And Video

February 25, 2020 3:20 pm 3 Comments

It baffles the mind. Israel is actually holding another election. If the prospects for the upcoming campaigns would vary, even slightly, from the first two, perhaps there’d be some motivation to get involved. But for the third time in a year, “thrice the price”, with an added deficit of millions of desperately needed shekalim, we are back to square one. Nothing has changed. It’s the same politicians at each other’s throats, making incessant campaign promises that are either outright lies, total hypocrisy or simply delusional. It’s become a kid’s game. Little children bicker over who gets to be king, and adults, apparently mature enough to lead a country, squabble and banter about their rights to the throne. If the voice of sanity and reason would ever set in, society would surely disqualify anyone who claims that they alone have what it takes. When it comes to the fate of millions, sorry, there is no room for childish arrogance or immaturity. But alas, we’ve returned to a standoff with no end in sight. The pollsters prophesize both major parties at an impasse, with one or two extra seats for one or the other. Lieberman has unfortunately never been clinically diagnosed but he is definitely suffering from either a severe midlife crisis, unsure if he identifies with the right or left, or, there is a strong possibility that bipolarism may run in his party’s leadership. And then there is us. Frum people officially affiliated with our party, but questioning the necessity of investing more time, energy or even the slightest concern, in a political debate that is bound to end in deadlock. What motivates us to show any interest in yet another election campaign? It won’t be the stickers; that’s for sure. Banners and potchkivilin might excite the kids for a fleeting moment, but chances are, they too are apathetic, just like us. (When adult politicians act like children, children start thinking like adults!) But there is one component of the fray that motivates action. It must. Presently, we are confronting an element of risk like never before. Leftists, liberals and self-hating Jews have always been lurking in the distance, their threatening voice looming too close for comfort. But in this past year alone, they’ve upped their game. They are not merely spewing hateful banter. Cities throughout Eretz Yisroel have begun bus services on Shabbos. Let us not be naïve; in the hallowed confines of Eretz HaKodesh, this blatant audacity is a tremendous Chilul Hashem. The same can unfortunately be said for the encroaching influence of the reform movement and their numerous proxies (think Women of the Wall) seeking to obliterate all sanctity from the Makom Hamikdash and other Mekomos Hakedoshim. Their battle does not end with Holy sites. They’ve set their sights on the Rabbanut’s halachic authority over Geirus and Gittin, the fundamental foundations of Jewish continuity. The very future of Klal Yisroel is on the wire. Not some day in the future, not soon…now. Perhaps many of us are ignorant, oblivious or blind to the drastic consequences of these dangerous precedents and are not pained by what we don’t know. But we dare not remain idle or silent to the heart-rending thought that in a Jewish State, representing the Jewish people, there is such a vociferous movement to eradicate and

Degel HaTorah Attempts To Encourage Voters By Bringing Chair of Hagaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky To The People

February 18, 2020 10:45 pm 12 Comments

The Degel Hatorah faction of UTJ is initiating a campaign to try to convince Ba’alei Teshuva and others to vote for their party in the coming weeks by bringing the chair of Hagaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky to different cities so that people can see it. The campaign, which is being titled: “A minute with Maran” is scheduled to begin this week as the Degel HaTorah party will be transporting the chair in a caravan driven by activists from the party. The campaign is being launched after the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah of Agudas Yisroel (Admorim) has begun encouraging Admorim from different Chassidish groups to go out and speak to voters and generate support for the party as well. The chair is being used because it is the chair that the Gadol Hador sits and learns in for hours each day. Activists will also be inviting families who are returning to the fold to come and participate in the activities that will be taking place surrounding the visit of the chair in each city. Each participant will be invited to sit in Hagaon HaRav Kanievsky’s chair for one minute and read a chapter of Tehillim or will be asked to accept upon themselves one good deed and write a request that will be given to HaRav Kanievsky. Organizers in Degel HaTorah have told BeChadrei Charedim News site that they hope to reach 5,000 people, men and women, who will participate and merit to sit in the chair. They hope that by doing so, these people will then become ambassadors for the party in their local communities. BeChadrei also reported that members of HaRav Kanievsky’s household are against the idea and the final decision to initiate the campaign will be made by the gadol Hador himself. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

On HaRav Kanievsky & Harav Edelstein’s Instructions, Degel HaTorah Joins Vote To Disqualify Arab MK

January 29, 2020 5:30 pm No Comments

The Central Elections Committee voted on Wednesday to disqualify Arab Joint Arab List MK Heba Yazbak for running in the upcoming elections due to her public statements supporting terrorism against Israel. Degel HaTorah joined Agudas Yisrael, Shas, the other right-wing parties, Blue & White and some members of the Labor-Gesher merger in voting for Yazbak’s disqualification after being instructed to do so by Gedolei Yisrael on Tuesday night. The vote to disqualify Yazbak was 27-7, with only Meretz and the Joint Arab List opposing the move. Degel HaTorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni visited the homes of Hagaon Harav Chaim Kanievsky and Hagaon Harav Gershon Edelstein on Tuesday night to hear their final decision on whether to vote for the disqualification of Yazbak. The decision of the Gedolei Yisrael was partially based on the precedent set by Hagaon Harav Aryeh Leib Shteinman, z’tl, who instructed Degel HaTorah in the past to vote for disqualifying Balad MK Haneen Zoavi from the Knesset due the fact that “she speaks against Am Yisrael to the world.” Chairman of Otzma Yehudit, Attorney Itamar Ben-Gvir, delivered a strongly-worded speech to the committee before the vote: “I’m standing before you…but I’m not standing here alone. At this moment, millions of prosecutors – citizens of Israel are standing with me – and thousands of victims who were murdered in acts of terror in the fight against the state of Israel. Danny Haran stands here today, whom the lowly terrorist Samir Kuntar shot in the back in front of his little daughter, Einat Haran, who was killed by that murderer by smashing her head on a rock.” Kuntar was one of the terrorists that Yazbak publicly supported. Ben-Gvir continued to describe other grisly murders by terrorists who were publicly supported by Yazbak and said: “Their blood cries out but their voices aren’t heard.” Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit issued his opinion prior to the Central Election Committee meeting that although he condemns Yazbak, there is not enough evidence that she was calling for attacks against Israel to disqualify her although she came very close to that line. The final decision will be made by the Supreme Court. As YWN reported last week, A petition was filed by Likud MK Ofir Katz to the Central Elections Committee to disqualify Yazbak in light of her public statements supporting terrorists, including Samir Kuntar, who killed a four-year-old girl in Nahariya in 1979 by smashing her head on rocks after shooting her father, Danny Haran, in front of her. Degel H’Torah wanted to vote for Yazbak’s disqualification for the same reasons the other parties wished to vote for it. But on the other hand, voting for her disqualification meant alienating Joint List chairman Ahmad Tibi and currently, Finance Committee chairman Moshe Gafni and Tibi, who is on the Finance Committee, cooperate on many issues of joint interest. Tibi has already announced that if Blue and White votes for Yazbak’s disqualification, it ends their chance of any potential agreement with the Joint List. Since there is already a majority who will vote for Yazbak’s disqualification, Degel H’Torah’s vote won’t affect the decision but on the other hand, refraining from disqualifying someone who openly supports terror could cause a chillul Hashem and also alienate potential Dati Leumi voters, some of whom have been voting for Yahadus H’Torah

Degel Hatorah MKs Meet With HaRav Kanievsky & HaRav Edelstein Regarding Arab MK

January 22, 2020 8:45 pm 5 Comments

The Degel Hatorah party met on Tuesday with Hagaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky and Hagaon Rosh Yeshivah Gershon Edelstein regarding the disqualification of Arab Joint List MK Heba Yazbak (Balad) for running for the Knesset in the upcoming elections. A petition was filed by Likud MK Ofir Katz to the Central Elections Committee to disqualify Yazbak in light of her public statements supporting terrorists, including Samir Kuntar, who killed a four-year-old girl in Nahariya in 1979 by smashing her head on rocks after shooting her father, Danny Haran, in front of her. Kuntar was released in 2008 in exchange for the bodies of IDF reserve soldiers Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser and later became a senior Hezbollah terrorist. When he died in an explosion near Damascus in 2015, Yazbak posted a picture of him and wrote: “The martyr fighter Samir Kuntar.” The right-wing parties are backing the petition as well as Blue & White and some members of the Labor-Gesher-Meretz merger. On one hand, Degel H’Torah wants to vote for Yazbak’s disqualification for the same reasons the other parties are voting for it. But on the other hand, voting for her disqualification will alienate Joint List chairman Ahmad Tibi and currently Finance Committee chairman Moshe Gafni and Tibi, who is on the Finance Committee, cooperate on many issues of joint interest. Tibi has already announced that if Blue and White votes for Yazbak’s disqualification, it ends their chance of any potential agreement with the Joint List. Since there is already a majority who will vote for Yazbak’s disqualification, Degel H’Torah’s vote won’t affect the decision but on the other hand, refraining from disqualifying someone who openly supports terror could cause a chillul Hashem and also alienate potential Dati Leumi voters, some of whom have been voting for Yahadus H’Torah due to the recent constant changes and splits in the Dati Leumi parties. During the meeting with HaRav Edelstein, it was mentioned that in the past Hagaon Harav Aryeh Leib Shteinman, z’tl, instructed Degal HaTorah to support the disqualification of Balad MK Haneen Zoavi from the Knesset due the fact that “she speaks against Am Yisrael to the world.” HaRav Edelstein did not make a decision on how the MKs should vote but it’s believed that Degel HaTorah will vote for her disqualification during the hearing next week. Immediately after the meeting of Degel H’Torah with HaRav Edelstein, a group of current and past Ponevezh talmidim came to the Rosh Yeshivah’s home and the Rosh Yeshivah delivered a special shiur. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Agudas Yisroel Ratifies Agreement To Run With Degel in Upcoming Election

January 12, 2020 10:30 pm 1 Comment

Members of Agudas Yisroel met at their headquarters in Bnei Brak to ratify the agreement to run on a conjoined list with Degel Hatorah in the upcoming elections for the Knesset in March. The agreement is the same that was made for the 22nd Knesset. The previous agreement saw Agudas Yisroel members in all the odd slots on the list with Degel Hatorah occupying all the even slots. The upcoming list will be reversed with Degel Hatorah members in the locations of the odd slots and Agudas Yisroel in the even slots. Should the list receive an odd number of seats then the last Agudas Yisroel member will resign in favor of a Degel Hatorah member. With regards to portfolios, the united party (UTJ) will request two positions, the Health Ministry for Litzman and the head of the Finance Committee for Gafni. Should the party end up in the opposition, then the more prominent job would go to Degel Hatorah. In the upcoming Knesset, the head of the party will move to a representative from Degel Hatorah. The joint party has also stated that they will demand as part of their coalition talks that the Norwegian Law be mandated as a permanent law, as opposed to previously where it was a temporary law. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Netanyahu Hands Out Ministries – Strife With Degel HaTorah As They Receive None

January 5, 2020 6:30 pm 1 Comment

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu handed out additional ministerial positions to members of the Likud and Shas parties after he resigned this week from all of his ministerial positions. The resignation came as a result of the indictment letter that was handed down against Netanyahu by the Attorney General back in November. The new appointments included MK David Bitton as the new Minister of Agriculture, Deputy Foreign Minister Tzippi Hotovely was appointed Minister of the Diaspora, Deputy Minister Itzik Cohen from Shas was appointed the Minister of Construction and Housing, and Shasha Bitton who was a former MK with the Kulanu party will be appointed as the Social Services Minister. Netanyahu received a lot of criticism surrounding the appointment of David Bitton as the Agriculture Minister as he too is facing a letter of indictment. A high-ranking member of the Likud faction said that Netanyahu had promised Bitton the position long before the letter of indictment was filed against him and that the Prime Minister kept his word. MK Nir Barkat from the Likud had expected to receive a ministerial position, after all the work he did on behalf of Netanyahu during the recent primary elections for the leadership of the party. Barkat was disappointed. Degel HaTorah was also demanding the position of Deputy Minister in place of Minister for MK Uri Maklev. They too were disappointed. Faction leader Moshe Gafni met together with Maklev and Netnayahu earlier this afternoon. During the meeting, Netanyahu offered Maklev numerous portfolios including the Deputy Treasury Minister. However, Maklev and Gafni turned down all of the positions because they were de facto deputy positions, and not deputy-in-place-of-a-minister positions, and sources in Degel HaTorah said that these positions have no value. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Shas Party Chairman Deri Attacks Degel Hatorah

December 17, 2019 9:23 am No Comments

Shas party chairman, Minister Aryeh Deri on Monday spoke out against Degel Hatorah Chairman MK Moshe Gafne regarding an attack launched against the chareidim and dati leumi community by a Haifa Deputy Mayor from the Yisrael Beitenu party. Deri explained during an interview with Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) that if a Shas personality would speak out harshly against Degel he would be ousted immediately, questioning why Degel remains silent. Deri added that both Gafne and the head of Degel in Haifa, Councilman Miki Alfer, worked together with Lieberman to have Mayor Einat-Kalish elected and this led to Lieberman’s person being appointed to the deputy mayor post. About an hour after Deri made his comments, Gafne was interviewed on Kol Berama Radio, using the forum to fire back. “We did everything possible to bring down the black regime of [former mayor] Yona Yahav, as he hounded the Shas and Agudas Yisrael educational institutions [in the city]. Despite all this, Shas did not team with us. “To blame us with cooperating with Yisrael Beitenu because Shas wanted control of the religious council there? We did everything possible so that the deputy mayor would be ousted. His words are terrible by any measure and we will take care of it, but Shas won’t preach morality to us!” Associates of Deri added” We are sorry that MK Gafni did not listen to the interview, as he did not understand him (Deri). Minister Deri tastefully explained Lieberman’s hypocrisy, who teamed with the chareidim in Haifa, and now attacks them and his representative humiliates the chareidim”. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Degel Appointments in Jerusalem Municipality Approved

December 15, 2019 6:30 am No Comments

After a prolonged period of time during which a decision was not announced, Degel Hatorah appointments were made; including the head of Chareidi Education in Jerusalem and the head of the Chareidi Cultural Division in the capital as well. The Jerusalem Professional Committee convened last week, and the decisions were made regarding the new appointments in light of struggle during recent months by Degel Hatorah to secure the appointments. On Sunday morning, it was decided that Shmulik Greenberg would be appointed director of chareidi education in the city and Pinchas Ehrlich director of the Chareidi Culture Division. These appointments are viewed as being ‘professional’, and therefore, addressed by the Jerusalem Professional Committee. In line with coalition agreements, the positions were to be given to Degel Hatorah officials. Pinchas Ehrlich is close to the Chairman of Degel Hatorah and Chairman of the Knesset Finance Committee; MK Moshe Gafne. He has considerable experience pertaining to cultural events in educational institutions as he held administrative positions, as well as in technological high schools, particularly schools for youths with difficulties, working in these capacities for over a decade. Shmuel Greenberg served as a deputy Beit Shemesh Mayor for a decade was also the head of the Beit Shemesh Community Centers Board of Directors. Prior to that, he served as parliamentary advisor to Moshe Gafne. Greenberg holds a master’s degree in public policy and a bachelor’s degree in law and education. Greenberg won two senior positions in the past two months, first in the Ministry of Transport as a transportation consultant for the chareidi sector after Shlomo Rosenstein was removed from the post and now as head of chareidi education in Jerusalem. He is expected to leave his other political jobs as he assumes his new role in Jerusalem. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Degel Hatorah Threatening to Leave Beit Shemesh Coalition

December 10, 2019 9:30 am 3 Comments

Perhaps it is just a case of it being to good to be true, but for the past months, there was relative political tranquility among the coalition partners. However, today, Degel Hatorah is threatening to break away from the coalition, telling the tzibur Mayor Aliza Bloch simply cannot be trusted. At the heart of the matter, on Tuesday night, Shas is expected to announce it is entering the coalition after a year in opposition. This is accompanied with a promise that when entering the coalition, Shas will receive control of the religious council, which is now in the hands of Mayor Bloch, but previously, controlled by Degel. Degel is furious over hearing of the deal, announcing it is seriously considering breaking from the coalition. Kikar Shabbos News adds that in the letter sent to Bloch, Degel concludes with saying, “The word of Mayor Bloch simply cannot be trusted”. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Degel HaTorah Staffers Jostling For Prestigious Jobs in Yerushalayim

December 9, 2019 10:30 pm No Comments

The Degel HaTorah party is amid a storm of activity as bids are now being accepted for a number of top jobs in the party, according to a report that was published in BeChadrei Charedim website. The bids are for jobs that are being sought after by members of both factions which make up the party. According to the report, the jobs available include, department heads inside Jerusalem’s City Hall including the head of Chareidi Education in the city and the head of religious culture in the city. Both of which are highly coveted positions. The report also mentioned that an anonymous party hired private detectives to dig up dirt on one of the candidates for the positions. This company was the same one used to nullify the candidacy of Yitzchak Pindrus from running for the position of Mayor of Elad. The committee for bidding interviewed all of the potential candidates for the positions on Monday and is expected to publish its findings sometime this week. The battle within Degel HaTorah is expected to last long after the committee’s decision has been made public. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Yitzchak Pindrus Appointed As Secretary-General Of Degel HaTorah

November 21, 2019 10:28 pm No Comments

The appointment of former MK Yitzchak Pindrus as Secretary-General of Degel HaTorah was confirmed on Tuesday to Kikar Hashabat by MK Moshe Gafni, following a lengthy delay due to a dispute among the party’s senior members, Kikar Shabbat reported on Wednesday. The appointment of Pindrus – which was supposed to occur even before the Yamim Tovim but was delayed due to the dispute – now just awaits the approval of the party’s rabbinical committee. The appointment is to compensate Pindrus for the fact that he lost his position in the Knesset when Yahadut HaTorah, which was originally reported as earning eight Knesset seats following the September elections, ended up losing the eighth seat by a few dozen votes to Likud. Pindrus was number eight on the Yahadut HaTorah list which meant that he didn’t make it into the 22nd Knesset and won’t be paid a salary or receive a budget. In light of Gantz’s predicted failure to form a government by Wednesday’s deadline at midnight and the likely prospect of third elections, it is highly probable that the 22nd Knesset will be as short-lived as the 21st one and Pindrus will have another chance to make it into the Knesset. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Degel Askanim Battling for Positions in Jerusalem City Hall

November 4, 2019 12:17 pm No Comments

Askanim affiliated with Degel Hatorah are competing for a limited number of slots in Jerusalem City Hall as well as some positions which were promised to the Shas party. The powerful position is the head of the city’s Chareidi Education Unit, and according to a Kikar Shabbos News report, based on behind the scenes information, there is a battle between senior Degel askanim for the post. There are also some who question why the deputy post in the Chareidi Education Unit is promised to Shas instead of remaining in Degel’s hands exclusively. Degel Hatorah and Shas teamed in the municipal election, which lead to the election of Moshe Leon as mayor. It was also decided that the posts in the Chareidi Education Unit would be divided between the parties, with Avraham Betzalel and Yisrael Kellerman dividing the responsibilities as the elected officials responsible for the portfolio. It was also decided that the head of the unit would be a Degel post and the deputy post would go to Shas. However, about a month ago, the head of the unit, Itamar Bar, stepped down and the post remains vacant at this time. This is the professional post which was filled by Bar for a long time. Kikar News reports the reason the position has not been filled in the internal machlokes in Degel among the askanim vying for the post. The top candidate is Yosef Rotenberg, a principal of a Kiryat Ata talmid torah. The second person is the deputy mayor of Beit Shemesh, Shmulik Greenberg. At this time, Mayor Leon has a vote in the selection committee, but he is not becoming involved, permitting Degel to work it out internally. In Shas, tempers are flaring as the party was promised the deputy slot would go to the sephardi party but to date, there has not been a tender for the position. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Senior Elad City Hall Appointment Has Degel Hatorah Officials Furious

October 28, 2019 6:30 am No Comments

Following Elad City Hall Director-General Ze’ev Kashash submitting his resignation to Mayor Yisrael Porush, it appears that Porush will be appointing Shai Natan of the Bayit Yehudi party to replace him. The expected appointment of Natan has elicited the ire of Degel Hatorah officials, with party Chairman MK Moshe Gafne questioning how he can make the appointment since it was Natan who petitioned against Yitzchak Pindrus’ bid to become mayor of the city, a court petition that compelled Pindrus to pull out of the mayoral race. Kikar Shabbos News spoke with a senior Degel Hatorah official anonymously, as he asks, “Is this the prize being awarded to Shai Natan by Elad City Hall for succeeding in preventing the Degel Hatorah and Shas candidate from competing in the race?” In addition, Degel officials point out the law requires a hiatus period of 18 months from serving as a councilman until one may be appointed as the city’s director-general, stating the appointment is problematic from a legal standpoint too. It appears that if Porush makes the appointment, as appears will be the case, Degel will turn to the High Court of Justice to have it disqualified. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Degel Hatorah Calls on Chabad Voters to Vote Yahadut Hatorah “We Never gave Land Away” [VIDEO]

September 10, 2019 7:45 am 16 Comments

MK Yitzchak Pindrus speaks out in defense of his Degel Hatorah party, citing the party never backed any vote to give away portions of Eretz Yisrael, did not back the Oslo Agreements, nor did it back and effort or process leading to giving away land. Pindrus adds, that as a resident of the Old City of Jerusalem and talmid of Rav Zilberman’s Yeshiva, he is well-aware Degel never acted in this way despite accusations to the contrary. He adds that both Maran HaGaon HaRav Aaron Yehuda Leib Shteinman ZT”L ZY”A and Maran HaGaon HaRav Yosef Sholom Elyashiv ZT”L ZY”A were against giving away and lands, calling on Chabad voters to “vote for the most chareidi party possible” as per the instructions of the Rebbe ZT”L. “At the moment of truth, each vote counts” is the Degel message. ח"כ פינדרוס מכחיש כי 'דגל התורה' הצביעה אי פעם בעד מסירת שטחים. "פשוט בלוף ש'דגל' אי פעם הצביעה בעד מסירת שטחים. דגל לא הצטרפו לאוסלו. שמעתי אישית מהרב אלישיב לא פעם ולא פעמיים התנגדות נחרצת לעניין". pic.twitter.com/X5nSe9OStv — חדשות הסקופים. (@Haskupim) September 9, 2019 (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Degel Hatorah Chairman Gafne Blasts Ruling Prohibiting MBD Concert

August 26, 2019 2:30 pm 2 Comments

Degel Hatorah chairman MK Moshe Gafne spoke out regarding a Haifa court ruling to order the cancelation of Monday’s planned MBD concert in Haifa. Gafne shouted “what is this madness and how can we continue like this” in his response to the court ruling that a concert for the chareidi tzibur in accordance with the chareidi lifestyle is prohibited by the nation’s highest court. Gafne decries how “singers are brought from around the world, from anywhere in the world with Chilul Shabbos, and this is okay. But when it comes to a number of men, in a closed hall, and to permit them to listen to their music isn’t permitted?” He added, “Their culture is culture, but our culture is not culture”, warning of the dangerous process that has begun, insisting he will not permit this agenda to continue. Gafne attacked the justices and the attorney general. He rejected “their culture” and we will bring a halt to what is taking place. He blasted the ongoing incitement against the chareidi tzibur, and the decision of the court prohibiting the planned men’s-only event in Haifa. *****PLEASE NOTE – YWN IS GIVING AWAY $5,000 CASH – JUST SIGN UP TO FOLLOW YWN WHATSAPP STATUS AND GET THE DETAILS!***** Make sure you are one of the more than 20,000 that signed up to YWN WhatsApp Status to receive news in live time. Click this link – or send a message to 1-888-4-YW-NEWS (888-499-6397) – to see our status posts***** ח"כ משה גפני התייחס לביטול ההופעה המופרדת בחיפה, ואמר: "להביא זמרים וזמרות מכל העולם תוך חילול שבת זה בסדר, אבל כמה גברים שיישבו באולם סגור וישמעו ערב שירה זה לא" @AvishayBenHaim pic.twitter.com/H44xIycfuO — חדשות 13 (@newsisrael13) August 26, 2019 (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Degel Hatorah Head In Tiveria: We Are Willing To Begin Anew With Mayor Kobi But It’s Up To Him

August 13, 2019 4:36 pm No Comments

Shortly after Tiveria Mayor Ron Kobi withdrew his petition with the High Court of Justice on Tuesday, after the court did not wish to hear it, Degel Hatorah Chairman in Tiveria, David Ochana, told Kikar Shabbos News “We said all along that if a balanced budget is presented – we will approve it”. “What occurred until today is that he brought an unreasonable budget, an inflated budget, and that is why we have not approved it”. He clarified, “If he now submits all the documents and there seems to be no deficit, surely we will approve it. If he continues his antics, we will not approve it”. When asked if the chareidim are willing to begin anew, he stated “Yes, we have always come with clean hands”. Will you permit him opportunity to pass the budget? Of course, but it is up to him. If he continues his antics, it will not pass. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Degel Angry with Jerusalem Mayor Leon for Failing to Keep Agreement

July 24, 2019 8:30 pm 6 Comments

The agreement signed between Degel Hatorah with Shas regarding the Jerusalem education portfolio has yet to be implemented despite the fact that Mayor Moshe Leon, who was backed by the litvish party, promised the agreement would be implemented within his first sixty days in office. Readers are reminded that there was a harsh disagreement between Degel and Shas regarding the education portfolio, which has been in Shas hands, now demanded by Degel. As part of the city coalition agreement, it was decided a Chareidi Education Resources Division would be established in the city by Deputy Mayor Yisrael Kellerman within the first sixty days of the Leon administration. This was the suggestion by HaGaon HaRav Baruch Soloveitchik made to solve the machlokes. This new unit will permit the division of chareidi education into separate departments, with one headed by Shas and the other by Degel, as Shas party leader Interior Minister Aryeh Deri was not about to give away the prestigious portfolio to Degel, fearing it would jeopardize his efforts to end discrimination against sephardi girls in the capital. In addition to the establishment of the new division, the city is expected to allocate NIS 1 million towards the construction of classrooms for the chareidi sector. According to a Kikar Shabbos News report, the funding is to come from the general budget. However, the basis of the budget that was passed by the city council did not include the section for the allocation of the new division. City officials report that work towards the establishment of the new chareidi education division is underway. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

HaRav Baruch Solovechik Breaks From Degel’s Jerusalem Vaad Rabbonim

July 10, 2019 5:25 pm No Comments

HaGaon HaRav Baruch Solovechik, who was appointed by Maran HaGaon HaRav Aaron Yehuda Leib Shteinman ZT”L as a member of the Vaad Rabbonim of Degel Hatorah in Yerushalayim, has decided to resign from the vaad as well as all public activities in the city. According to Kikar Shabbos News, a number of Degel activists recently approached the rav to enlist his assistance, and they learned of his decision. The rav explained that he has decided to invest all of his efforts in the yeshiva instead of public activities. One is reminded that the rav was involved in negotiations with former Mayor Nir Barkat and succeeded in achieving the “neighborhoods agreement” with Barkat, which assist the chareidim in communities that were secular in the past and becoming increasingly chareidi. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Degel & Agudah Request Breaking Apart The Party

July 10, 2019 2:30 pm 1 Comment

Knesset officials on Tuesday morning, July 10, 2019, confirm receiving a request from the Yahadut Hatorah party to divide back Degel Hatorah and Agudas Yisrael into two separate parties. Following discussions, it was decided to approve the request from MK Yaakov Asher, to split the party. According to an Agudas Yisrael decision, the party members will be Yaakov Litzman, Meir Porush and Yaakov Tessler. Degel’s members will be Moshe Gafne, Uri Maklev and Yaakov Asher. Asher explains that the split is only a technicality, a decision by Yahadut Hatorah to bring them additional power in the Central Election Committee, and it is in no way reflects a true split of the parties ahead of the election for 21st Knesset, which is set for Tuesday, September 17, 2019. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Degel MKs Consult With HaGaon HaRav Edelstein Regarding Lieberman’s Harsh Anti-Chareidi Line

June 28, 2019 3:30 pm 5 Comments

Members of Knesset of the Degel Hatorah party on Thursday morning met with HaGaon HaRav Gershon Edelstein Shlita together with HaGaon HaRav Natan Zuchovsky MKs attending the meeting included Moshe Gafne, Uri Maklev, Yaakov Asher and Yitzchak Pindrus. The meeting centered around the harsh anti-chareidi attitude and statements released by MK Avigdor Lieberman, who chairs the Yisrael Beitenu party. During the meeting, the MKs claimed that Lieberman was expressing himself harshly in order to gain headlines and votes, asking to hear the opinion of Rav Edelstein as how to relate to the matter. They also discussed the situation in Ramat Gan, as Mayor Shema Cohen next week, at a city council meeting, hopes to have a majority vote in favor or running public buses on Shabbos R”L. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

DRAMA IN DEGEL HATORAH: New Chareidi Newspaper Creates Stir Across Israel

May 21, 2019 10:30 pm 10 Comments

On Tuesday afternoon, Charedi journalist Yair Sharki publicized a dramatic turn of events in the Chareidi Litvish world. According to Sharki, a new Chareidi newspaper is set to be published by the name HaDegel. The paper will be published under the auspices of Hagaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky and will take the place of Yated Ne’eman. The first edition is set to be released around Shavuos. Sharki took to Twitter to explain just how groundbreaking such a move is. “In order to explain just how dramatic opening a new newspaper is in the Charedi community: When Rav Shach separated from Agudas Yisroel and built Degel Hatorah, the first thing he did was open the newspaper Yated Neeman. When Rav Shmuel Auerbach left Degel Hatorah and opened up the Peleg Yerushalmi the first thing he did was open the newspaper Hapeles. This is the first condition of political independence.” Sharki then answered a question that was asked on the above hypothesis. “This time, Rav Kanievsky isn’t leaving anything and is pretty much the mainstream. However, the decision to open a new newspaper instead of attempting to reign in Yated Neeman (as Maran Hagaon HaRav Shteinman did in his day) points to the internal power struggles and the internal opposition present, which is very strong, and left him with no other choice.” Over the past few years, letters have been sent back and forth between the main power of ownership of Yated Neeman, U.S. businessman Shimon Glick and HaRav Kanievsky, each one pointing towards the difference of opinions between the two with regards to how the paper should be run. In light of that, and Yated Ne’eman perhaps losing their religious supervision, the new newspaper was born. The birth pangs of the new paper is a reflection of the infighting between the media moguls of Yated Ne’eman and the leaders of the Degel Hatorah movement. With this new beginning, a strong statement of disavowment is being made by Rav Kanievsky and his leadership towards Yated Ne’eman. כדי להסביר עד כמה הקמת עיתון חדש היא דרמה בעולם החרדי:כשהרב שך פרש מאגודת ישראל והקים את דגל התורה הדבר הראשון שהוא עשה היה לפתוח עיתון – יתד נאמן.כשהרב אוירבך פרש מדגל התורה והקים את הפלג הירושלמי הדבר הראשון שהוא עשה היה להקים עיתון – הפלס.זה התנאי הראשון לעצמאות פוליטית — יאיר שרקי (@yaircherki) May 21, 2019 בעל השליטה בעיתון הוא איש העסקים החרדי אמריקאי שמעון גליק, שלא מיישר קו עם בית הרב קנייבסקי כבר תקופה. לאחרונה הוא סידר לעצמו גיבוי בשער של העיתון מהרב אדלשטיין (בתמונה) אבל נראה שהוא הולך לאבד את תמיכתו והרב אדלשטיין צפוי להיות שותף בעיתון החדש pic.twitter.com/0VvIgPpQZ7 — יאיר שרקי (@yaircherki) May 21, 2019 (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Degel MKs To Update The Rabbonim On Coalition Negotiations

May 1, 2019 12:00 pm No Comments

Degel Hatorah MKs are scheduled to update the party’s rabbonim shlita on Wednesday night. According to a Kikar Shabbos report, MKs Moshe Gafne, Uri Maklev, Yaakov Asher and Yitzchak Pindrus will be briefing HaGaon HaRav Natan Zuchovsky, along with HaRav Yosef Efrati, who is a member of the rabbinical council, and the council secretary, Rav Avraham Rubinstein. Members of the Knesset will update the rabbonim on the coalition negotiations with the Likud and on the current situation regarding the draft law. HaGaon HaRav Gershon Edelstein Shlita instructed the rabbonim of Degel Hatorah to convene the Knesset members to monitor the negotiations being conducted according to the Daas Torah. After the meeting, the rabbonim will present the various topics that were raised to HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky and Hagaon HaRav Gershon Edelstein. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Degel Hatorah Enlists Bochrim To Help Get 8th Knesset Seat, Which Appears Likely

April 15, 2019 12:30 pm No Comments

Degel Hatorah officials put the word out to Yeshiva Bochrim, asking for anyone capable of coming to assist to review the protocols received by the party pertaining to polling stations nationwide. They are instructed to compare the reports from the individual polling stations with the official results submitted to the Central Elections Committee in the hope of finding the approximately 200 additional votes needed to get an eighth Knesset seat. The message that went out was one of ‘alarm’ as the party’s officials work tirelessly to find the additional votes, hoping to gain that eighth seat. Since last week, the party has succeeded in getting to the polling stations in all areas nationwide where the party enjoys a healthy voting base. At the time of this report, based on the ongoing recount, Yahadut Hatorah has reached the eighth seat and Likud has dropped one, to 35, but nothing is final until announced on Wednesday. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

PHOTOS: Degel Motzei Shabbos Election Event Held in Lederman’s, Attended By Rav Chaim Kanievsky

March 24, 2019 12:30 pm 1 Comment

(PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE) On motzei Shabbos at 9:00 PM, a Degel Hatorah election event was held at Beis Medrash Lederman on Rashbam Street in Bnei Brak and called by HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky. The conference was intended for representatives of the public, area activists and field personnel of the Litvish party and is was expected to be the first in a series of meetings ahead of the elections. Speakers included Hagaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky, HaGaon HaRav Gershon Edelstein, HaGaon HaRav Yosef Efrati, MK Moshe Gafne and others. The event was emceed by Yitzchak Pindrus. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem/Photo Credit: קבוצת רוטרניק)

Haifa: Request To Turnover Control Of The Religious Council From Degel To Shas

March 20, 2019 4:30 am No Comments

Haifa Mayor Einat Kalish-Rotem is working towards bringing the Shas party into her coalition. According to a Kikar Shabbos News report, this may entail succeeding in transferring control of the city’s religious council from Degel Hatorah to Shas. Kalish-Rotem has been working for the past four months to bring Shas into her government, albeit, without success. At a meeting that took place recently, the Shas representatives made their demands clear, and without control over the city’s religious council, the party will not agree to enter into the coalition. A meeting was held between HaGaon Rav Shai Peri, a senior Shas party rav in the city, with Nachshon Tzuk, Mayor Rotem-Kalish’s number two man. During the meeting, Tzuk tried to bring Shas into the coalition, but it was made clear that without control over the city’s religious council, this was not going to happen. it is pointed out that with one mandate on the city council, Shas’ demand is a bold one. The religious council was promised to Degel Hatorah, headed by Deputy Mayor Miki Alfer. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Photo Essay: Kinus Moetzes Gedeolei Hatorah Of Degel Hatorah At Home Of Hagaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky (Photos by JDN)

February 19, 2019 8:15 pm No Comments

Motzes Gedolei Hatorah Of Degel Hatorah Meet; Ratifies Party List

February 18, 2019 8:30 am 1 Comment

The Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah for Degel Hatorah gathered on Sunday evening in the home of Hagaon HaRav Chaim Kaievsky in Bnei Brak in order to prepare the party’s list for the 21st Knesset elections. Head of the party faction Moshe Gafne spoke to the gathered Moetzes prior to the final decisions regarding the list. The Council Secretary and Mayor of Bnei Brak, Avraham Rubinstein, read the decisions that were made by the council. 1: The Moetzes strengthens the hands of those who represent the party and sit in the Knesset guarding Torah in our holy country. The Moetzes calls upon the government and the Knesset to allow Bnei Yeshiva and anyone else who wishes to do so, to sit and learn Torah without any interruption or interference. 2: The Moetzes calls upon all powers to cease the desecration of the Holy Shabbos in our land and to work to strengthen the guarding of Shabbos. 3: The Moetzes strengthens the heads of Yeshivos and Kollelim and all others who support the learning of Torah and we encourage the furthering of their support. 4: The Moetzes appoints the following people to be its representatives on the party list in the upcoming elections and blesses them that they should increase Kavod Shomayim. Rabbi Moshe Gafne, Rabbi Uri Maklev, Rabbi Yaakov Asher, Rabbi Yitzchak Pindrus, Rabbi Eliyahu Barouchi, Rabbi David Ohana and Rabbi Yitzchak Reich. 5: The Moetzes blesses those who work tirelessly to help the list succeed in the upcoming elections and calls upon the representatives of Degel Hatorah and all those who can influence voters to vote for Gimmel, and all of the people who work towards and vote for the party that is being Mikadesh Shem Shomayim. 6: The Moetzes requests that all Yeshivos and Kollelim strengthen themselves in their continuity of learning Torah, and warns them to beware when it comes to issues pertaining to “Bais adam l’chavero”, in order that we should succeed in the upcoming election. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Aryeh Deri Speaks Out Very Strongly Against Degel Hatorah’s Betrayal

January 21, 2019 2:30 pm 3 Comments

After Degel Hatorah signed an agreement and entered the coalition government headed by Beit Shemesh Mayor Aliza Bloch, receiving many positions of power in the deal, Shas party chairman Minister Aryeh Deri on Sunday spoke out harshly against Degel Hatorah for “betraying Shas”. The deal has basically signed Shas’ fate, to remain in opposition, while Degel, which partnered with Shas in the recent municipal elections, moved ahead and cut a deal with Bloch to the exclusion of Shas. “The Shas movement views the conduct of Degel Hatorah in Beit Shemesh with great severity, conduct which blatantly violated our agreements with us and covertly conducted negotiations to enter the Bloch coalition, despite all the opposition it ostensibly expressed,” the Shas statement said. Deri stressed that: “It should be clarified that during the last period, Shas was offered all the positions offered to Degel Hatorah and even more so, but in light of Degel Hatorah’s request, which was explained by the religious issues, Shas rejected the proposals and remained faithful to the cooperation agreement. Even when there were rumors that Degel Hatorah were negotiating behind our backs, they made sure to deny them. “This week it turned out that there were truths in the rumors, and Degel HaTorah was double-sided, and [Degel] betrayed the trust we gave. In fact, this serious act will have ramifications in the future.” Deri’s sharp announcement comes in the background of the decision by the head of the Moetzas Chachmei HaTorah Chacham Shalom Cohen Shlita, that Shas will run the upcoming elections as an independent Sephardi faction without unification with Yahadut Hatorah. “The uniqueness of the Shas movement, which was established at the outset to restore the glory of the Sephardic public and the connection between the Torah and the people of Israel, is the only way we will continue, Shas will continue to take an independent path for the Sephardi public, as it was from the day it was founded,” the statement read. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Surprising Everyone, Degel’s Muntag Announces He Is Taking A Break From Beit Shemesh Political Life

January 21, 2019 11:07 am 2 Comments

During a Sunday night Beit Shemesh City Council meeting, Councilman (Degel Hatorah) Moshe Muntag announced he is leaving his position on the city council and in the local government. In his parting words, Muntag praised the efforts of the newly-elected mayor, Dr. Aliza Bloch, stating “Serious work has been done here, and I think some of things here were outside the realm of politics, and were conducted between spiritual officials in a good way and to everyone’s satisfaction.” “I believe that Degel Hatorah entered the coalition with the goal to assist you mayor in achieving your great goals, to work seriously for the good of the city”. Muntag that parted from his colleagues, mentioning he merited serving for 15 years on the council in an array of position, having succeeded in improving the city in many areas. “On the personal level, I also consulted with my rabbonim, my family and members of my home and decided to take a break from my positions in the Beit Shemesh municipality, but not from public life in general. “I waited for the moment that Degel Hatorah would enter the coalition, that Degel Hatorah will stabilize, according to its true size, and according to what this party is worth and wish my party success,” Montag said. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

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