In an interview with Razi Barkai of Galei Tzahal (Army Radio), Shas leader Aryeh Deri announced that former Rishon L’Tzion HaGaon HaRav Shlomo Amar is not a member of the Shas leadership. He added that Rav Amar was never a contender to take over for Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef ZT”L.
Days after HaGaon HaRav Shlomo Cohen was officially appointed as the new head of the Shas Council of Torah Sages Deri made it clear that Rav Amar is not a part of the party’s gedolim. The interview is viewed as part of Deri’s power play as he recently hosted President Shimon Peres and Rishon L’Tzion HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Yosef Shlita in his home. Mr. Peres on erev 7th day of Pesach was also at the home of the Rishon L’Tzion as was Deri. It is now clear that Rav Amar has been ousted from the Shas inner circle, led by Deri, who appointed Rav Cohen, with the latter being an ardent supporter of his leadership of the party over Eli Yishai.
According to people close to Rav Amar, Deri’s people worked overtime to make sure that Rav Amar would not be included on the list of guests attending the president’s event. Deri is doing everything possible to distance Rav Amar, seeking to surround himself with supporters and strengthen his power base in Shas and the Yishai camp and the supporters of the latter.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
In the ‘old’ days of Israeli politics, the MK’s used to listen to the council of the Rabbis of Aguda before acting or speaking.
Today things have changed. It is the newspapers and politicians who determine for us simple folk who are the gedolim that we should listen to. Not the gedolim who determine who the politicians and newspapers are that we should listen to.
On this we should all sit shiva and mourn the demise of the true Torah gedol and the sad acceptance of the ‘pop’ political accepted ‘gedol’ who is willing to follow the lead of the politicians and newspapers.