Top Rabbi Urges Boycott of Shas Party Ahead of Elections
Translated & summarized from Arutz Sheva by baba
Rabbi Moshe Tzadka, a prominent Sephardic Haredi leader, issued a letter directing followers not to vote for the Shas party, citing concerns over yeshiva student conscription. Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri is now mobilizing senior rabbis to convince Rabbi Tzadka to reverse the instruction. The directive comes just days before elections and could impact Shas's voter support.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Rabbi Moshe Tzadka issued a letter instructing followers not to vote for the Shas party.
- The directive is reportedly due to Shas's alleged willingness to allow yeshiva student conscription.
- Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri is seeking to have senior rabbis persuade Rabbi Tzadka to retract the instruction.
- The development occurs days before elections and could affect Shas's voter base.
- Rabbi Bneiahu Shmueli reportedly mediated the drafting of the letter.
Days before elections, Rabbi Moshe Tzadka, head of the Porat Yosef Yeshiva and the senior among Sephardic yeshiva deans, signed a letter instructing followers not to vote for the Shas party. The directive stems from allegations that Shas has shown willingness to permit the conscription of yeshiva students not actively engaged in their studies.
This move has caused concern within the Shas party headquarters, given Rabbi Tzadka's significant standing in the Sephardic Haredi community and the potential impact of his instruction on the party's voters.
In response, Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri is actively working to enlist prominent rabbis, including Council of Torah Sages member Rabbi Moshe Maya and Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef. The goal is to have them visit Rabbi Tzadka and persuade him to retract his directive against voting for Shas.
This development occurs at a particularly sensitive time for Shas as it prepares for election day, highlighting the ongoing dispute over the conscription of yeshiva students and its potential repercussions for the party's support. The letter was reportedly drafted with the mediation of Kabbalist Rabbi Bneiahu Shmueli, head of the Nehar Shalom Yeshiva.
Mentioned
