After a long period of silence on the part of those who stir in the pot and not finding a candidate for Degel Hatorah and the weakening of the axis with Shas, during a meeting of the Degel Moetzas Gedolei Yisrael, on Wednesday, 13 Menachem Av in Bnei Brak, there was a deliberate turn in Degel Hatorah’s efforts to try to take over running the chareidi city.

The chairman, MK Moshe Gafne, said at the meeting he visited with members of the Torah Council, HaGaon HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, and HaGaon HaRav Rabbi Dov Landau, as both of them have many talmidim in Elad.

They told him that it is not only about what is just good for the party as a political party, explaining they have hakoras hatov for the assistance of Mayor Yisrael Porush to the Slobodka tzibur in the city, and as such, they would not act against him and would not interfere in his candidacy. This delivered a significant blow to Gafne, who desperately wants to oust Porush and see a party-affiliated mayor in the city.

It was HaGaon HaRav Yosef Yekusiel Efrati who revealed Degel doesn’t have a candidate for the post. In fact, Bechadrei Chareidim reports Rav Efrati said, “Elad is complex and it will be most difficult finding a suitable candidate from Degel Hatorah”.

Rav Efrati is quoted adding, “In Degel Hatorah, the personalities are Yirei Shomayim” and because of this, it is difficult finding the suitable candidate for the post for such people are not necessarily suitable.

In a somewhat contradictory statement, the rav is also quoted saying, the incumbent should be permitted to remain, but agreed with Gafne the party should seek a suitable candidate.

HaGaon HaRav Yehuda Silman has been selected by the party to meet with candidates and try to reach a solution in the matter.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)