Last week, HaRav Shalom Cohen Shlita attacked Kol Chai Radio and called  for rabbinical oversight for the station. Since Rabbi Cohen’s statement, Shas leader Aryeh Deri has been leveling attacks against the station.

Kol Berama has been airing the motzei Shabbos Torah event live for a number of years. The station broadcasted the shiur of Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef ZT”L. However, on motzei Shabbos Parshas Lech Lecha things changed as the station did not air the shiur. This is reportedly because Shas party leader Aryeh Deri used the forum to deliver an attack against the station, supporting Rabbi Cohen’s position. Rabbi Cohen is the head of Shas’ Moetzas Gedolei Yisrael.

There was much criticism heard against Deri, with opponents blaming him from depriving the Sephardi tzibur and others from hearing the weekly shiur due to his own political aspirations.

Kol Berama filled the airtime by broadcasting a shiur given by Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef ZT”L in the past. That program was called “We miss Maran” (מתגעגעים למרן). It now appears that the station will be replacing Rabbi Yosef’s weekly shiur with a shiur by Mekubal Rabbi Binayahu Shmueli, who does not agree with Rabbi Cohen and came to Kol Berama’s defense after Rav Cohen called for rabbinical oversight for the station.

Kol Berama officials clarify that they having nothing against the Rishon L’Tzion chas v’sholom but they cannot broadcast a shiur when party officials use the airtime to push their own political agenda, which in this case is to bash the radio station.

Station managers stress the station was established by Maran ZT”L and the policy has been and still is never to insult any Torah personality, without exception, and the allegations by Rabbi Cohen against Kol Berama are not accurate.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)