Yeshiva World News

Many are looking at Rav Yehoshua Pollack to save the chareidi tzibur from disaster as a split in Degel HaTorah appears increasingly likely. Efforts are underway to place Pollack in the seventh slot. While he is affiliated with Degel, his appointment will most likely enjoy the approval of gedolei torah from both camps, Degel HaTorah and Agudas Yisrael. While he is not a chossid, he is affiliated with Agudah.

Pollack is known to be close to HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Auerbach Shlita, and some are hopeful his presence on the list may promote achdus.

Pollack served as a MK in the 17th Knesset, following the petira of Avraham Ravitz z”l and his name appeared on the party list in the 18th Knesset but the list did not earn enough seats in Knesset for him to enter, since he was in the 11th place, an unrealistic slot at best.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

As former Shas leader Deputy Prime Minister Eli Yishai seeks to digest the events of last week, being unseated as the undisputed leader of the party, persons affiliated with the rosh yeshiva of Yeshivat Kisei Rachamim, HaGaon HaRav Meir Mazuz are saying “We warned you”.

Rav Mazuz is viewed as the mora d’atra of Jews from Tunisia, and generally speaking, is not involved in the politics and day-to-day workings of Shas. Nevertheless, when Yishai pushed for ousting MK Rabbi Chaim Amsellem, they warned him of the ramifications, but he did not adhere to their warning. Rav Mazuz does have what to say and his influence is significant.

Chadrei Chareidim reports that when Amsellem entered Shas Yishai was told by the rookie MK’s supporters “this is the person who will take care of your Deri problem and the threat of him returning to the party.” The report states that even the wealthy party supporters told Yishai to work with Amsellem, but this was not to be.

In the beginning, Yishai distanced himself from Amsellem, who is viewed as being significantly more learned than he but at some point, Yishai felt threatened by Amsellem and worked to get rid of him. Allies warned that this was not the correct choice, instructing Yishai to give Amsellem his respect along with responsibilities commensurate with his stature as a talmid chacham, adding “one day you will need him against Deri when the latter wishes to return” but Yishai would not hear of it.

Despite the fact that Amsellem’s parents came from Morocco they moved to Algeria and when he was six-months-old, they arrived in France. Amsellem’s wife if Tunisian, as is Rav Mazuz Shlita, and he became part of this community and enjoys their support. Until he ousted Mazuz, Yishai power base originated from the very same community but he lost the backing for refusing to permit Amsellem to remain.

Amsellem sustained some heavy blows by being ousted, harsh statements leveled against him by Yishai, and more importantly by Chacham Ovadia. When Rav Ovadia asked Rav Amsellem why he was getting into controversy with “Rav Eliyahu [Yishai]” Amsellem told the gadol hador that Yishai was seeking controversy with him and things are not the way they appear.

Ultimately, Yishai succeeded in persuading Rav Ovadia to oust Amsellem, a move that was not understood or accepted by Rav Mazuz. He was told to keep Amsellem in the party, adding he is a talmid chacham, but Yishai was adamant in his decision to remove him from Shas’ lineup.

Today, Yishai may be looking back with a distant fondness on the days when Amsellem was on board and Yishai rain Shas’ affairs, as opposed to being cochairmen along with Aryeh Deri and Ariel Atias, with the hope the latter will be the peace-keeper.

One must remember back in the day when Deri was dropped as party leader Rav Ovadia did not consider Yishai as his replacement. There were others viewed as more suitable but Rav Mazuz pushed, as persons close to the rav are aware just how much he admired Yishai and how he used his weight to have him pushed into his current post.

After the fact, Yishai is not viewed as having been loyal since he acted against the rav’s interests as explained above. There was a time when Rav Mazuz required something, Yishai would leave Yerushalayim during the predawn hours to daven vosikin with Rav Mazuz in Bnei Brak, then to meet with him, but it appears those days are in the past, as is Yishai’s control of Shas and while MK Rabbi Chaim Amsellem launches his election campaign under the banner of his Am Shalem party.

A Bit About Rav Amsellem

Born in 1959, Rabbi Chaim Amsellem arrived in Eretz Yisrael with his family at the age of 11. He received smicha in 1980, and was certified as qualified to serve as the rav of a city in 1990. He served as the rav of Sharsheret for seven years and then a rav in Netivot. Simultaneously, he established yeshivot in southern Israel as well as heading the Baba Sali Kollel. From there he moved with his family to Har Nof, Yerushalayim, and later served as the Sephardic Rav of Geneva.

He has written seforim, including chidushim on the Rambam, a SHuT on Shulchan Aruch, in addition to a number of seforim on hashkofa matters. In 2006 he was elected to Knesset as a member of Shas, the representative of Rav Baruch Abuchatzera. In the 18th Knesset he was reelected under Shas and eventually broke away to form his own party. In addition to Hebrew he speaks Arabic and French.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

Shas’ Aryeh Deri has spoken out against the “discriminatory policies” of the Ashkenazi girls schools, vowing to work to end it once and for all.

In the Monday 6 Cheshvan 5773 edition of Hamodia (Israel), affiliated with Agudas Yisrael, the counter attack appears.

The headline reads “Call of the Hour, Achdus and Not Dispute” as the article speaks of how Shas was united last week under the leadership of Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef Shlita, aware that a party with two leaders may have resulted in a significant Chilul Hashem chas v’sholom.

The newspaper continues by explaining that even if there is machlokes in another frum party it does not report it as others may, since their “kovod is important” and they wish to assist towards making a Kiddush Hashem and not the contrary.

Then the article shifts gears to the offensive, addressing “the person who returned to the leadership of Shas” who is quoted saying “he plans to wage an unrelenting war against the discrimination in Ashkenazi seminaries (frum girls high schools).”

Hamodia:

For this you returned to politics? Without even entering into the heart of the painful situation – perhaps try explaining some of the details, why and what? To just declare war in the chareidi camp – this is what you have to offer?

Don’t get me wrong. We are not disqualifying the opinion of the candidate who feels the necessity of commenting on the situation and we are not mocking the tears of the Jewish mothers who do not have schools for their daughters. But why supply the ammunition to those who oppose us and our way of life? Why give them this pleasure?

…Shas as a party is well defined, representing its specified sector, which is fine. The main point is to cooperate towards being מקדש שם שמים and even if differences arise, we should not air our dirty laundry in public for the secular media to see.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

Egged officials announced that in keeping with its new policy established a number of months ago in the capital not to permit bus ads showing the faces of women, it will maintain modesty in the upcoming election campaign as well. As such, Egged will not show the faces of candidates, only their message.

MK (Ichud HaLeumi) Dr. Michael Ben-Ari applauded the decision, explaining voters should get the message of parties and candidates and not just vote for a pretty face. Yair Lapid on the other hand was not pleased, and he released a statement opposing the decision, joined by MKs from the extremist left-wing Meretz Party.

Meretz leader MK Zahava Gal-On used the situation to lash out against Egged for acquiescing to ‘chareidi coercion’.

Egged explains that in an effort to be respectful to the chareidi tzibur a decision was made months ago to refrain from showing ads with women’s faces. The decision was challenged on the basis of discriminating against women. Since that petition to the High Court of Justice Egged decided to take it a step further and no longer shows the faces of males or females in billboard bus ads in the capital and this will be the case in the upcoming election as well.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

Shas leaders Eli Yishai and Aryeh Deri on Thursday 2 Cheshvan 5773 appeared on Channel 2 News together in a display of achdus, as they are now working to allay the fears of voters, assuring them they have put their differences behind them and are now working together ahead of the election in compliance with the ruling of Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef Shlita. The two are aware many voters are concerned, some fearing the party will implode due to the decision forced upon them by Rav Ovadia.

When asked if they will be able to continue working side by side, Deri stated that after 12 years apart, there will certainly be differences of opinion since they each see things in their own way. He added that the party leader is Maran Rav Ovadia, and “we are past the age of concerning ourselves with kovod”, admitting he wants a cabinet post that will permit him to assist “half the nation that doesn’t have”, referring to the lower class.

Yishai stated “this is what the public and Rav Ovadia want, and this is the way it is going to be”. He added that it took them a week but an agreement was reached and this is the new reality, emphasizing for him, it does not matter who has the first slot in the lineup.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

Not everyone is pleased with the new Shas party leadership arrangement, the “trio”, which includes Eli Yishai, Aryeh Deri and Ariel Atias at the helm. The decision by Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef Shlita included the elimination of the use of the title “head” of the party for Yishai.

Thousands of flyers were dropped in the Har Nof area of Yerushalayim, home to R’ Ovadia and many senior Shas officials, a party stronghold, flyers that condemn the decision-making process that led to the new leadership arrangement.

The pashkavilim entitled “Rabbi stabbed” targets the gadol hador and his close advisors for bringing Deri back into the party, questioning how R’ Ovadia could have acted as he did, “betraying the loyal leader and the holy party”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

Having been assigned the responsibility of heading the Shas election campaign, shortly after announcing the co-leadership of Shas with Eli Yishai, Aryeh Deri phoned Chaim Biton, the director of Mosdos Migdal Ohr, asking him to undertake managing the election campaign, which he agreed to do, Kikar Shabbat reports.

Biton has been running the mosdos of HaTzaddik HaRav Yitzchok Dovid Grossman for over a decade and is known to be a close associate of Deri. Those in the know add that it is an excellent choice since Biton is well-seasoned, and in the past, has played a vital role in Shas elections campaigns, albeit behind the scenes.

Aides to Deri however deny that the appointment was finalized as the report states; admitting Deri is considering Biton but adding the deal has not been closed.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

Yair Lapid, who launched the new Yesh Atid (There if a Future) party continues to promise voters he will cut the “exorbitant” funding of chareidi mosdos and redirect funding where it should go.

The daily Maariv reports that chareidi politicians are working to legislate a law that guarantees funding for schools that do not include the so-called ‘core subjects’ in their curriculum, which includes English, math and science, i.e. many or most chareidi yeshivos. These mosdos are currently receiving 55% of the budgeting per child received by public schools, with the later complying with the curriculum of the Ministry of Education. The chareidi schools are categorized as “recognized” for the purposes of state budgeting.

Speaking with the chareidi news site Kikar Shabbat, Deputy Health Minister (Yahadut HaTorah) Yaakov Litzman addressed the challenges to the chareidi tzibur in the upcoming general election.

“I don’t know any chareidi who requires an explanation as to why it is imperative that we have a strong chareidi representation in the next government. It is clear to all. We are facing serious issues, including threats to religion and the world of Torah, a compulsory draft and the housing shortage”.

“We have addressed each and every one of these issues seriously in the last Knesset and it is imperative that we have the strength to continue doing so.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

In his weekly motzei shabbos drasha, Chacham Ovadia spoke of the events in Shas last week, the achdus that took place, calling it a Kiddush Hashem. He mentioned Aryeh Deri, Eli Yishai and Yisrael Atias by name, praising their willingness to be part of this initiative.

Chacham Ovadia added “Ashkenazim and Sephardim have been telephoning them to congratulate them.” One of calls he received was “the rav from Netanya, the Sanzer Rebbe Shlita, who told me he was reciting tehillim for their success”.

Rav Ovadia Shlita added the Sanzer Rebbe told him that he was davening for the success of the achdus effort, which he too called a Kiddush Hashem.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

On Thursday afternoon 2 Cheshvan 5773, Yahadut HaTorah representatives met in a first step towards planning out election strategy. They are aware that before the umbrella party made up of Degel HaTorah and Agudas Yisrael can move ahead, they must first analyze the current status and ascertain if they will run under a joined slate as in the past. The union has earned the Ashkenazi chareidim at least one additional Knesset seat.

Those present were in agreement, that it is in everyone’s interest to continue running under a joint ticket. They agreed an effort must be exerted to get complacent Ashkenazi chareidim to come out and vote for Yahadut HaTorah. They agreed the current list should remain as is, feeling this would send a message of achdus to the tzibur.

It was also decided that the seventh slot on the ticket, which is the third Degel position, would be filled in accordance to instruction from HaGaon HaRav Aaron Yehuda Leib Shteinman Shlita.

Despite the good wishes to promote achdus, the Yerushalmi faction of Degel HaTorah is moving ahead to register its Netzach HaTorah Party, signaling it is entirely possible they will break from Degel (Viewed as the Yated Ne’eman faction) and run independently (representing the HaPeles faction).

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

While Shas works to send its tzibur a message of achdus, at least trying to abate fears of a part split, the same cannot be said in the litvish community as the situation in Degel HaTorah appears to be worsening.

There are reports that during the past days, behind the scenes efforts were taking place towards bridging the gap between the Degel (Yated) and HaPeles factions, albeit without success. In fact, Degel officials deny such talks ever took place.

The Yerushalmi litvish tzibur has decided to leave options available for the upcoming elections and they filed their new party, נצח התורה with the election committee to permit running against Degel should they decide there is no way to run under a united ticket.

The new party, Netzach HaTorah, received the required permits from the Ministry of Justice on Wednesday, 1 Cheshvan 5773 and they hope to complete the registration process with the Ministry of the Interior Thursday. Menachem Carmel’s name does not appear on the roster, which makes sense since he remains a member of Degel at present. The rumors are that Carmel is funding the new party.

At present, it appears the Yerushalmi faction may actually break from Degel HaTorah ahead of the elections and run under the Netzach HaTorah slate, a move that would also impact Agudas Yisrael, Degel’s partner in the Yahadut HaTorah umbrella party.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

Following the official announcement from HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef’s Shlita of the leadership arrangement in Shas on Wednesday night the eve of 2 Cheshvan 5773, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu phoned Eli Yishai, telling him “You have shown what leadership and achdus are. I am fond of you and stand beside you strengthening your hand, and look forward to working together in the future.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

MK (Ichud HaLeumi) Yaakov Katz (Ketzaleh) in an address to the Knesset plenum expressed optimism, citing the significance of the upcoming election and the need to limit the number of seats that go to the Arabs and left-wing parties.

He stressed the need to vote for his party, to double the number of Jews in Yehuda and Shomron from over 700,000, vowing to prevent more expulsions and “Gush Katifs” and the needs for unity to stand behind Ichud HaLeumi, warning that if the votes go to the wrong party the situation could chas v’sholom worsen. He also highlighted his party’s commitment to Jewish education and values and the call of the hour, to vote Icud HaLeumi.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

Jerusalem – 17:22: According to the preliminary information being leaked by Shas officials, a deal has been announced by Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef Shlita by which he will hold the title as the head of Shas and both Eli Yishai and Aryeh Deri will operate under him. Most officials explain the proposed arrangement as a partial victory for Deri and a loss for Yishai, who simply did not want to have to share control of the party with anyone, let alone Deri. It appears both will however accept the rav’s position, seeking to find a formula to work side-by-side.

It appears that Chacham Ovadia was torn between his loyalty to Yishai and the reality that Deri will bring the votes that Yishai simply cannot bring.

The draft solution is going to be presented to the party’s Moetzas Gedolei Yisrael for a vote, but some explain it is a “rubber stamp formality for the rabbonim dare to reject the arrangement that Maran Rav Ovadia pained over in the hope of keeping Shas from being torn apart from the inside out.

The rabbonim have not yet announced when they will be meeting, possibly today, Wednesday 1 Cheshvan 5773 or tomorrow.

Additional details of the proposed Shas agreement/arrangement will follow as confirmed information becomes available.

While an official decision from Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef Shlita is only expected on Wednesday, 1 Cheshvan 5773, all media reports are signaling that the gadol hador will opt to reinstate Aryeh Deri to head the Shas party in the upcoming elections and Yishai, the current leader, will be offered the second slot.

It appears that Shas’ Ariel Atias, who is an ardent supporter of the Deri camp, has been working tenaciously behind the scenes and he apparently has persuaded the party’s rabbonim that it is in Shas’ best interests to reinstate Deri. This is in line with the polls, showing Shas emerging far more successful from the elections with Deri in the top slot.

Yishai reportedly made several attempts to speak with Rav Ovadia today, as well as working to persuade rabbonim from the party’s Moetzas Gedolei Yisrael. It appears that Rav Ovadia personally supports Yishai but the polls present a different picture, one less sympathetic to Shas.

In addition, Deri appears to have made his position clear, that he will not accept anything less than the leadership position and if this is not available, he will return to the political arena in another framework. This has the Shas rabbonim concerned for they are aware every vote for Deri as an independent will be at the expense of Shas.

Political analysts predict that if Yishai is indeed ousted he will not accept the second slot in the lineup but will prefer to resign from the party roster.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

With elections three months away the candidates are weighing options and it appears a split in Icud HaLeumi may be unavoidable as the ‘ארץ ישראל שלנו’ faction may break away.

Baruch Marzel and MK Dr. Michael Ben-Ari are planning to run under a joint slate, possibly with MK Prof. Aryeh Eldad. They hope to draw votes from residents of areas plagued by illegal aliens, Chabadniks, and voters disappointed with Shas.

At present, they are just probing the possibility, for they feel the Knesset lacks legitimate right-wing representation.

Ichud HaLeumi today is comprised of four MKs from three different parties; Yaakov Katz and Uri Ariel (Tekuma), Aryeh Eldad (Tikvah) and Michael Ben-Ari (Eretz Yisrael Shelanu). A fifth person, Uri Bank (Moledet) did not earn a Knesset seat.

As is the case in the chareidi camp, there is no achdus in the dati leumi camp as Icud is on the verge of breaking up, as is HaBayit HaYehudi, with the latter now in a leadership race which includes the incumbent, Minister Rabbi Prof. Daniel Hershkowitz and Naftali Bennett.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

The “Yated” and “HaPeles” litvish factions do not appear to be heading to sholom any time soon and the upcoming general elections may result in the establishment of a new party, to compete with Degel HaTorah, highlighting the lack of achdus between the factions. The motzei shabbos Asifa in Bnei Brak attended by thousands was a showing of strength for the break-away faction, which now feels it must be fairly represented in Degel or it will be compelled to run independently.

According to a Kikar Shabbat report quoting a “senior Degel official” anonymously, the decision not to include Menachem Carmel on the Degel HaTorah roster for the 11 Shevat 5773 election may have led to the efforts to establish a new party. This would have a profound negative impact on the chareidi representation in Knesset for any split would result in less mandates. This is the reason that Degel and Agudas Yisrael run under a united “Yahadut HaTorah” list, for history has proven if they run independently, they will lose at least one seat between them.

According to the Kikar report, the move to launch a new party enjoys the support of HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Auerbach Shlita. An urgent asifa was held earlier in the week, following which the decision was made to run under a new party rather than permitting Degel HaTorah and its leaders to continue being the voice of the litvish tzibur.

After leaders met in the HaPeles office they traveled to the home of Rav Auerbach in Yerushalayim’s Shaare Chessed neighborhood to confer with him. They reportedly explained that while they are working towards “sholom and achdus” their initiative is not being reciprocated and as such, they must be prepared to act. “Even if the new party does not earn the minimum to pass the threshold to enter Knesset, we will have made our point – that they cannot continue to ignore us”, they reportedly told Rav Auerbach.

This coming Sunday, 5 Cheshvan 5773 is the deadline for submitting lists for the election and therefore, they are compelled to act now in order obtain sufficient signatures in time to meet the deadline.

Kikar adds that after checking with another Degel official, it is clear that Carmel will not be included in the party’s list, adding “We in Degel do not need an Amsellem 2”, referring to the rogue former Shas MK Rav Chaim Amsellem, who broke away from Shas to launch his own party.

The source added “At the end of the day, the person who will be selected will be one with a track record of accomplishments, one who is embraced by the tzibur, such as Bnei Brak Mayor Rav Yaakov Asher, Rav Sorotzkin, or the former head of the Rechasim Council Rav Yitzchak Reich.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

Tensions are running high in the Shas community as the party faction members await the final words from Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef Shlita regarding Aryeh Deri and Eli Yisrael. Reports from Har Nof signal the party’s Moetzas Gedolei HaTorah is going to convene and a decision will be announced within 48 hours.

Most feel that the rav will find some type of arrangement that will be acceptable to Deri, but they do not believe Rav Yosef will oust Yishai from the party leadership position despite Deri’s success during his tenure and the fact he played a key role in launching the party in 1984.

Alternatively, Shas officials are all too well-aware that if Deri opts to leave Shas and run independently, Shas will pay a price and the party’s success in the upcoming election will be diminished as a result.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

According to a Yisrael HaYom report quoting aides to former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, if he returns to the political arena to head a party, he would earn 24-26 mandates in the upcoming general elections. This is based on Olmert running with former Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and opposition leader MK Shaul Mofaz. The report states that former IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi would also be on that slate.

Close associates of the former prime minister report Mr. Olmert is weighing his options and at present the odds of his return are 50:50. If the group moves to form a new party then Mofaz, who currently heads Kadima, would most likely not be included since most feel he would opt to remain as head of Kadima.

Olmert over recent days has been meeting with different political figures and today, Tuesday 30 Tishrei 5773; he is scheduled to meet with Tzipi Livni, the former head of Kadima.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)