Shas officials were true to their word and Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef Shlita was on hand in Binyanei Ha’uma on motzei shabbos to deliver his weekly motzei shabbos shiur and launch the party’s election campaign in the presence of the party’s leadership trio and thousands of supporters.

Shas is working hard to exhibit achdus after R’ Ovadia decided the party will be lead by the three; Eli Yisrael, Ariel Atias and Aryeh Deri, but the differences in their hashkafa is resulting some friction which many feel may escalate as the campaign moves forward.

Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Eli Simchayoff opened the event, telling supports Shas will set the tone for yiddishkheit in the state by its prominent position in the coalition. Simchayoff is among the defendants involved in the Holyland real estate trial which including former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and others.

Members of the party’s Moetzas Gedolei Yisrael were on hand, along with prominent roshei yeshiva, including HaGaon HaRav Shalom Cohen of Yeshivat Porat Yosef and HaGaon HaRav Reuven Elbaz, Rosh Yeshivat Ohr HaChaim.

Rav Ovadia explained Shas was established to bring Jews back to a Torah way of live and “Every Shas MK, without exception, is involved in bringing people back on the proper path”, the gadol hador explained. Rav Ovadia added that Shas is also here to serve the poor and the party will continue fighting against planned cuts in state assistance to the lower income families.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)