Top Rabbis Meet to Avert Political Crisis Over Draft Law
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
Most members of the Council of Torah Sages met with Rabbi Moshe Tzedakah to prevent him from issuing an opinion letter against the Shas party, stemming from disagreements over the draft law. While Shas claimed Rabbi Tzedakah agreed to support the party, his associates denied this, stating no decision has been made pending clarification on Shas's position regarding the conscription of Haredi youths. A final decision is expected within 24 hours.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Top rabbis met with Rabbi Moshe Tzedakah to prevent a split over the Shas party and the draft law.
- The dispute centers on Shas's alleged support for high draft targets for Haredi youths.
- Council of Torah Sages members asserted Shas's Knesset members follow their directives on conscription.
- Rabbi Tzedakah's associates deny reports that he has decided to support Shas.
- A final decision from Rabbi Tzedakah is expected within 24 hours.
A significant political and religious drama unfolded in the Sephardic Haredi community just days before elections, as most members of the Council of Torah Sages visited Rabbi Moshe Tzedakah, head of the Porat Yosef Yeshiva. The late-night meeting at Rabbi Tzedakah's home aimed to prevent a political rift and the potential publication of his opinion letter against voting for the Shas party.
The core of the dispute is the draft law and its implications. Rabbi Tzedakah had been seriously considering signing a letter urging people not to vote for Shas, reportedly due to his strong criticism of the party's handling of the draft law over the past two years. Sources claim Shas has indirectly agreed to high draft targets that could compel the conscription of young Haredim not studying in yeshivas full-time.
To alleviate concerns about severe damage to the party's standing so close to the elections, the Council of Torah Sages members, including Chief Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef, Rabbi Moshe Maya, Rabbi Avraham Salaim, and Rabbi Yehuda Cohen, met with Rabbi Tzedakah. During the lengthy and intense discussion, they asserted that Shas Knesset members are completely subordinate to their authority regarding draft deferments and conscription, emphasizing that the party has never agreed to draft yeshiva students.
However, conflicting accounts emerged from the meeting. Shas sources claimed the crisis was over, stating Rabbi Tzedakah had instructed supporters to vote for the party, even though he himself, like his late father Rabbi Yehuda Tzedakah, does not vote. Conversely, Rabbi Tzedakah's associates strongly denied these claims, insisting no decision had been made. They stated Rabbi Tzedakah has not instructed anyone to vote for Shas and requires guarantees that the party will not support the conscription of Haredi youths after the elections.
It is anticipated that Rabbi Tzedakah will make a final decision within the next 24 hours, once Shas's stance on the draft issue becomes clearer.
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