Deputy Minister and Shas leader Rav Eli Yishai made a 48 hour trip to Europe to make a shiva visit as a personal emissary of Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef Shlita. He will deliver the gadol hador’s condolences to the family of Zev Wolfson z”l.

In his condolence letter, Rav Yosef stresses the prominent position held by Yishai, who is serving as a personal emissary to be menachem the aveilim.

Ladaat.net explains that in Shas, the Rav’s words send a clear message attesting to the undisputed leadership position of Yishai as the party’s former leader; Rav Aryeh Deri continues to gain prominence in the public spotlight as the nation begins getting into election mode. Actually, there is much speculation surrounding a Deri bid in the Jerusalem mayoral race scheduled for 2013. This was the subject of a recent Jerusalem Post article on the mayoral race, citing at present, Deri would be the most successful candidate as he enjoys support from the frum and non-religious camps as well as the political right and left.

Others feel that Deri may challenge Yishai’s leadership for Shas, but the most likely and worrisome scenario for Shas is Deri running for Knesset under his own new party, a move that the polls signal would bring Shas down to a party of six mandates. Polls show that Deri running in the general elections under his own party would earn at least six seats.

The careful wording of the letter clearly shows the rav’s underlying intensions, to reaffirm Yishai’s position as the undisputed leader of the Shas party.

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(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)