According Rav Eliyahu Amar, a son of Jerusalem Sephardi Chief Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar Shlita, the visit by Aryeh Deri to his father on Purim Yerushalayim erev Shabbos has significance and may signal a change in hashkafa vis-à-vis Shas and his father.

Rav Eliyahu explained to Noam Zeigman of Kol Chai Radio “They have been hounding my father for three years”. He is referring to the period of the elections for new Chief Rabbis of Israel when Rabbi Amar backed another candidate for Sephardi Chief Rabbi instead of Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef Shlita. Rav Amar has since persona non grata with Shas but some feel Deri’s move signals a willingness to bring him back into the fold.

While Rabbi Eliyahu is willing to view the visit as a positive step, he explains time will tell and it will not take too long to determine if Shas’ attitude towards his father has changed. He wishes to be optimistic at this time.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)