Prominent Rabbi Makes Rare Public Endorsement of Shas Party
Translated & summarized from JDN by baba
Rabbi Yitzchak Cohen of Jerusalem has made a rare public appeal for Israelis to vote for the Shas party, a movement he described as founded by great rabbis and dedicated to Jewish public service and Torah study. The rabbi highlighted Shas's contributions to religious institutions and praised its chairman, Arie Deri. This explicit endorsement is considered unusual for Rabbi Cohen, who typically avoids public involvement in elections, and has drawn attention in the Haredi community.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Rabbi Yitzchak Cohen publicly urged all Israelis to vote for the Shas party.
- The rabbi called this a rare step, as he usually avoids election involvement.
- He described Shas as founded by great rabbis and serving the Jewish public.
- Rabbi Cohen cited Shas's role in establishing religious institutions and Torah study.
- He praised Shas Chairman Arie Deri for his self-sacrifice.
- The endorsement has garnered significant attention within the Haredi community.
Rabbi Yitzchak Cohen, the rabbi of the Shmuel Hanavi neighborhood in Jerusalem, has issued a public call for Israelis to vote for the Shas party. This is considered a particularly unusual step, as Rabbi Cohen typically does not participate in election campaigns. He described Shas as a movement founded on the leadership of "great rabbis of Israel" and dedicated to serving the Jewish public and strengthening Torah study.
In his statement, Rabbi Cohen urged the public to support the party, stating, "I call on all the people of Israel to vote for the Shas movement, which is founded by the great rabbis of Israel and performs great sanctification of God's name." He highlighted the party's historical contributions, noting the establishment of numerous religious and educational institutions, including mikvahs and Talmud Torah schools, which he credited with increasing the number of Torah scholars since Shas's inception.
The rabbi emphasized the importance of adhering to the guidance of prominent rabbis, advising, "We do not move right or left without the great rabbis of Israel. Everyone should do what they can to strengthen the power of this holy movement." He concluded by praising Shas Chairman Rabbi Arie Deri for his dedication, saying, "The movement's chairman, Rabbi Arie Deri, sacrifices himself, and one who sacrifices himself will surely succeed."
This public endorsement has generated interest within the Haredi community, especially given Rabbi Cohen's usual reticence on electoral matters. His decision to break with his typical practice and explicitly support Shas is seen as a significant intervention.
