A headline in the Friday, 25 Teves 5772 edition of Yediot Ahronot proved an embarrassment for the Shas party, an article speaking about “the war in the rav’s home”, referring to those closest to Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef Shlita.
Nachum Barnea ran the story based on a letter that was sent from inside the rav’s home to the State Comptroller’s Office, allegedly detailing questionable activities. Actually, it says the letter was sent by a relative and it details ongoing activities by Shas leaders, a master plan to gain control of the Chief Rabbinate using means that border on law-breaking.
The letter claims the actions are geared to advancing the kashrut of Badatz Beit Yosef, which already turns over millions of shekels annually. The letter explains that this was the purpose of appointing Ministers Of Religious Services Yaakov Margi to his post, to advance this agenda by pushing for the election of the rav’s sons and those close to the inner circle into key positions.
The report places HaGaon HaRav Moshe Yosef, who heads the badatz kashrus, at the helm of the master plan, attributing him with total control over the badatz and Shas, despite being a younger son. The report continues that a brother-in-law of Rav Moshe is supposed to be appointed as rav in Modi’in and Rav Moshe threatened Margi that if the appointment does not go through, he would be ousted from his cabinet post. Another brother-in-law of the rav is slated for appointment in Rishon L’Tzion, despite a previous criminal convictions that compelled him to do community service.
Rabbi Binyamin Atias, a brother of Housing Minister Ariel Atias continues as a dayan as well as a supervisor in the badatz. Shas is already pushing him for the rabbinate position in Petach Tikvah. Towards achieving this goal, Rav Moshe already invited Rabbi Moshe Pinto of Petach Tikvah to Rav Ovadia’s home, where they spoke, explaining to him he cannot consider running for the post since he would indeed be viewed as a valid competitor.
According to the letter, the worst of the stories detailed surrounds efforts to appoint Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef as chief Sephardi rav of Yerushalayim. The letter says the heads of the party do not hesitate phoning those persons with voting power towards pressuring them to vote correctly. According to rumors, this particular appointment is also towards advancing the badatz hashgacha.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
Can you imagine the epileptic fits we would see in the comments, had such a letter allegedly origionated from the Gavad Of Yerushalayim Harav weiss Shlita ???
But being that its not fashionable to bash the sephardim, all is quiet….