One of the prominent rabbonim believed to be a backer of Shas MK Eli Yishai announced on Sunday 22 Kislev that he is not endorsing any new party as he is hoping for achdus in Shas, not a split that results in a new political party.
The coming days are critical as it appears likely Yishai, a former head of Shas, will be leaving, possibly to quit politics and possibly to join another political party.
Yishai has been speaking with and meeting with rabbonim seeking support for such a move including HaGaon Binayahu Shmueli, Rosh Yeshivat Nahar Shalom. Rav Shmueli told the media he added his name to a letter circulated by HaGaon HaRav Meir Mazuz, seeking to strengthen Yishai’s position.
When asked on Sunday 22 Kislev, Rav Shmueli explained he seeks achdus in Shas and at present, he is not supporting any party. “I am a talmid of Moreinu Rosh Yeshivat Porat Yosef HaGaon Rabi Yehuda Tzadka and he was not connected to parties. That is true for me too…”
HaGaon HaRav Meir Mazuz Shlita appears will be a prominent rabbinical figure in a new party launched by Yishai should he opt to follow this route.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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As long as all splinters pass the threshold, a split might be a benefit. Shas loses votes to those who want a more nationalist policy, so having the nationalist elements of Shas split off and join a “Hardal” party might be good, leaving Shas as a pure Hareidi party.
A Hardal party might facilitate a right-wing coalition (based on Likud, Bayit Yehudi, and Yisrael Beiteinu) if that pushed them over the 61 seat line. On the other hand, a purely Hareidi Shas would be free, along with the Ashkenazi hareidim, to join a left coaltiion (in return for ending concription, which is the #1 issue for hareidim).
Everyone in the US and also in Israel is encouraged to the a flu shot to prevent this interesting virus from wrecking havoc on our lives. Interesting how Chacham Ovadia, ztk”l never complained when he got sick or when he was mentally over-taxed with worries if the Shas schools with be provided with adequate funds but now, the Moetzet Chachamei HaTorah of Shas are now getting a small taste of all the weight Chacham Ovadia carried with him daily. Shas didn’t run by itself, it ran because Chacham Ovadia was there to grease the machinery and replace that which needed replacing.
Today, there is an inept character, a snake to be more specific, that MUST be banished from Shas and from all forms of politics. The ex-convict known as Aryeh Deri is a disgusting, self-centered, noxious individual. When will all of you voters get it through your heads that Rav Ovadia was the one who ran everything while still learning intense Torah. All of the members of Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah of Shas should rally around Yishai not Deri. Deri will bring discontentment to the other members of Shas and Shas will lose out on many seats as they see what kind of snake Deri.
Under Deri’s direction when Shas had 17 seats, the Sephardic community did not benefit in anyway. I will not accuse anyone of pocketing moneys for that would be unfair but to the underprivileged Sephardic community they did not gain anything. Yishai will bring achdut for that is what everyone has called for. With Deri at Shas’ whatever, it will lean more and more to the left while Yeshai will keep things to the right. Yishai will make sure that ALL school will provide opportunity for ALL children not just one variety. The prejudice, I will hope and pray for will be brought to a close. I’m hoping that those members of Shas that learned Shas / Halacha will leave Shas and go over to help Yishai as he will be the new success story.