A secret meeting was held on Tuesday night the eve of 13 Teves 5777 in the Yechavei Daas Beis Medrash in the Har Nof neighborhood of the capital which is headed by Rabbi David Yosef Shlita, Kikar News reports.

A number of prominent rabbonim attended including HaGaon HaRav Yehuda Cohen (Rosh Yeshivat Be’er Yehuda), HaGaon HaRav Eliyahu Tufik (Rav of the Shmuel HaNavi neighborhood of the capital), Ariel Atias (a former Shas minister), MK Michael Michaeli (Shas), Rav David Ben-Shimon (Gabbai of HaGaon HaRav Shalom Cohen Shlita) and Avi Rosen (an aide to MK Yaakov Margi) who handles matters pertaining to chareidi induction.

According to information received by Shas leader Aryeh Deri, the new efforts surrounding induction of chareidim seem to be discriminating against Sephardi Bnei Torah while favoring their Ashkenazi counterparts. Deri appointed former Minister Ariel Atias to probe the matter as he served as a member of the Shaked Committee which addressed the matter of the induction of chareidim into the military and he is well-versed in the matters at hand and the players.

It is added that persons affiliated with the Yerushalmi Branch of the Degel Hatorah tzibur presented two folders with information proving that the Vaad HaYeshivos was cooperating with IDF authorities and selling out Sephardim, who will be compelled to serve towards permitting Ashkenazim to remain in yeshivos.

Rav David announced “If these allegations are proven correct, then we will form our own Vaad Yeshivos and leave them”.

According to the report, at this point there was much anger towards the Yerushalmi faction and the Vaad Yeshivos, for “spitting in the face of the head of the Moetzas Chachmei Yisrael HaGaon HaRav Shalom Cohen Shlita.

It was decided that a team was going to be formed including HaGaon Rav Yehuda Cohen; HaGaon HaRav Eliyahu Tufik and Ariel Atias. The three will meet in coming days to discuss regulations set forth by the Defense Minister vis-à-vis drafting chareidim.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)