After the failure to attract the masses at the 11-month memorial event for Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef ZT”L in Yerushalayim, Shas leaders have decided to cancel the event planned for Ramat Gan. The media coverage of the event held in the Jerusalem Convention Center was focused on the growing split in Shas between the Deri and Yishai camps, which led to the poor attendance. The event in the Ramat Gan Stadium was scheduled to mark one year since the petira of the gadol hador.

Officials do not wish to give Shas a permit to hold the event in the stadium, only outdoors. Shas was going to fight the decision but following the failure in Yerushalayim, it has been decided to abandon the Ramat Gan venue. A one-year event will likely be held in Yerushalayim, where Shas officials hope they have a better chance of bringing out more participants.

The event in Ramat Gan was to take place immediately before Yom Kippur and organizers no longer believe that can attract 35,000 people to fill the stadium. Hence, they prefer to avoid the embarrassment and the event has been canceled. It is likely the event will be hosted in the new Jerusalem stadium that has a seating capacity of 11,000.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)