Top Rabbi Declares Independence from Political Blocs

Rabbi Shlomo Yedidya Zafraani, the Av Beis Din of the "Amlei HaTorah" communities and president of the "Achdut Ha'Acharim" communities, stated last Saturday in Jerusalem that his followers are neither aligned with the right-wing nor the left-wing political bloc. "We are not with the right bloc and not with the left bloc, we are together with the holy Torah," he declared during one of his sermons. He characterized both political sides as equally undesirable, comparing them to the biblical spies who refused to enter the land and the zealots who attempted to ascend without divine consent, explaining that both failed because they did not follow God's will. Rabbi Zafraani emphasized that political decisions should be guided by the path of the Torah. His remarks come amid discussions about the possibility of the Shas party joining a left-wing government. He suggested that partnership with the right-wing bloc is not a decisive factor and that the primary consideration should be which government would best enable yeshiva students to dedicate themselves to their studies. However, he did not explicitly endorse joining any specific government. During the Sabbath, Rabbi Zafraani delivered several talks and lessons to community members, including discussions on Sabbath laws, legends, and prayers, and offered blessings to children to become Torah scholars.