Rabbi Shach's Confidant Criticizes Degel HaTorah Leadership

Rabbi Rafael Woolf, a close associate and confidant of the late Rabbi Elazar Menachem Shach, has voiced strong criticism regarding recent leadership changes within the Degel HaTorah political party. Woolf expressed shock at the removal of veteran Knesset members Moshe Gafni and Uri Maklev, particularly objecting to the stated reason of needing to "refresh" the party ranks.

In an interview on Kol Barama radio, Woolf questioned the concept of "refreshment" as a justification for replacing elected officials, drawing parallels to how one would not "refresh" yeshiva deans or city rabbis simply due to age. He argued that unless the officials failed in their duties, their tenure should not be ended based solely on years of service, contrasting this with the past practice of "rotation" which he believes "refreshment" is a new name for.

Woolf further contended that the current leadership of Degel HaTorah has deviated from the path established by its founder, Rabbi Shach. He specifically accused the party's newspaper, Yated Ne'eman, of attempting to downplay Rabbi Shach's legacy, noting a perceived reduction in mentions and a change in how he is referred to.

To support his claims about Rabbi Shach's stance on replacing long-serving officials, Woolf recalled a letter from the early 1980s concerning Agudat Yisrael members. In the letter, Rabbi Shach opposed rotation for loyal and experienced representatives, emphasizing their faithful service. Woolf also shared a personal anecdote about Rabbi Shach expressing gratitude for Moshe Gafni's election to the Knesset, highlighting his positive regard for the lawmaker.