Shas Chairman Deri Mobilizes Local Officials for Election Push
Translated & summarized from Behadrei Haredim by baba
Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri is galvanizing local party representatives and organizing memorial events for Rabbi Ovadia Yosef to bolster support ahead of the upcoming Knesset elections. Deri urged officials to highlight the party's governmental influence on municipal resources and framed their current efforts as a prelude to future local elections. Shas is planning large-scale events and a campaign targeting the Haredi community, aiming to increase voter turnout and strengthen the party's standing.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri is mobilizing local representatives for an election campaign, emphasizing their role in securing municipal resources.
- Deri described the current local efforts as "a kind of primaries" for the representatives and a preview of the next election cycle.
- The party is organizing a "Marana Week" to commemorate the 13th anniversary of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's passing, expecting tens of thousands of attendees.
- Hundreds of buses will transport participants to major events, with local representatives organizing over 1,000 additional memorial gatherings.
- Shas plans a campaign targeting the Haredi public to highlight party positions and warn against a secular-leftist government.
Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri is intensifying the party's ground operations ahead of the Knesset elections by enlisting local representatives and setting clear objectives for each municipality where Shas operates. The party is also preparing for a series of events to mark 13 years since the passing of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, aiming to leverage his legacy to increase support.
During a meeting before the Sukkot holiday, Deri instructed Shas representatives in municipalities where the party received over 2,000 votes to emphasize the connection between Shas's governmental strength and the resources and achievements secured for their cities. Hundreds of local offices, led by urban representatives and overseen by regional managers and Knesset members, will be activated as part of this plan. Deri stressed that even in municipalities where the mayor can form a coalition without Shas, the party's influence stems from its government power. "There cannot be a disconnect or difference in the voter's perception between the municipal and national levels," he stated.
Deri also linked the current activity level of the representatives to their standing in the next local elections, expected in about two years, calling it "a kind of primaries for you, and a preview of the next election system."
Concurrently, Shas is organizing a "Marana Week" to commemorate the 13th anniversary of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's death, with major events planned for Tuesday and Thursday, expecting tens of thousands of participants. Hundreds of buses will transport attendees from approximately 70 to 80 cities and towns. Local representatives are also set to organize over 1,000 memorial events nationwide, including prayer tents, refreshments, and candle lighting. This commemoration proceeds despite the Attorney General's decision to cancel the main event's funding through the Ministry of Religious Services.
Shas has shifted its focus to memorial events instead of the originally planned penitential prayers, which party sources felt were too distant from the election date. Alongside these events, Shas plans a campaign targeting the Haredi public, highlighting the party's positions and warning against a secular-leftist government. The party hopes that combining local outreach with the memorial events for Rabbi Ovadia Yosef will re-engage voters and boost support.
