Top Rabbi Shelves Protest Letter Against Shas Party
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
Rabbi Moshe Tzedakah has withdrawn a letter opposing the Shas party after meeting with the Council of Torah Sages. He issued a new statement urging followers to heed their rabbis regarding the upcoming elections. The move comes amid tensions over Shas's stance on the conscription law for Haredi men. The compromise aims to prevent a public split in the Sephardic Haredi community before the elections.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Rabbi Moshe Tzedakah withdrew a protest letter against the Shas party after meeting with Torah Sages.
- A new statement from Rabbi Tzedakah advises followers to listen to their rabbis concerning elections.
- The original letter criticized Shas's position on the conscription law for Haredi men.
- Sources close to Rabbi Tzedakah deny any directive was given to vote for Shas.
- The resolution averts a public rift in the Sephardic Haredi community before elections.
Rabbi Moshe Tzedakah, head of the Porat Yosef Yeshiva, has decided to shelve a letter he intended to publish, which would have urged against voting for the Shas party. This decision follows a meeting with members of the Council of Torah Sages at his residence.
Instead of the original letter, Rabbi Tzedakah released a new statement. The revised text, intended to address the "fateful battle for the Jewish character of the Holy Land" and the protection of Torah scholars, states, "Regarding the elections, let everyone listen to the words of their rabbis, and may good blessings come upon them."
The dramatic meeting occurred after Council of Torah Sages members visited Rabbi Tzedakah the previous week to prevent the publication of his initial letter. Attendees at the meeting included Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef, Rabbi Moshe Maya, Rabbi Avraham Salaim, and Rabbi Yehuda Cohen.
The original letter was reportedly prompted by sharp criticism from Rabbi Tzedakah regarding Shas's handling of the conscription law. Allegations suggested Shas had agreed to terms that would necessitate the drafting of Haredi young men not actively engaged in full-time yeshiva study.
Sources close to Rabbi Tzedakah clarified that no directive was given to vote for Shas, contrary to claims from the party. They stated, "No instruction was given, we will not support without a commitment that no one will be drafted."
The new statement represents a compromise, neither explicitly endorsing nor condemning a vote for Shas, leaving the decision to individual followers and their rabbis. This resolution concludes a week of significant political and religious tension in the Sephardic Haredi community shortly before the upcoming elections, averting a public rift within the Torah world.
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