Deri Responds to Criticism Over Visit to Draft Evaders, Calls Attorney General “Wicked”

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri commented on the Basic Law: Torah Study, which was approved by the Knesset plenum, saying it enshrines a fundamental principle in the identity of the Jewish people and Israeli society. “The Basic Law: Torah Study that we passed yesterday says that a person who studies Torah makes a significant contribution to the people of Israel. Isn’t that something simple? Isn’t that obvious? We never even dreamed we would need to legislate this, it is like legislating a law on circumcision. It is such a simple thing. What is our entire existence in this country if not thanks to the Torah? What sustained the people of Israel? Every child understands that.” Deri at the Kalef event, Photo: Courtesy of the photographer

Later in his remarks, Deri attacked the public discourse around yeshiva students and the label “draft evaders” attached to some of them. “There were those who attacked me: How dare you go visit the ‘draft evaders’? May God have mercy! ‘Dust in their mouths’ [a curse meaning shame on them]. Torah scholars, who devote their lives to Torah study, are these ‘draft evaders’? They serve the people of Israel.” Deri stressed that the ultra-Orthodox public sees itself as an inseparable part of Israeli society and military service, and he also noted the family connection to IDF soldiers. “We do not need proof of what soldiers are. How much we pray for them. Among us Sephardim there is no one who does not have a soldier in his family. Our movement, Shas, is number 3 or 4 if I am not mistaken, on the double envelopes. When I visited this week the detainees in the military prison, I saw the team of soldiers there, I do not need to guess how they vote. They are all God-fearing, all Sephardim, lovers of Torah, respectful of the Torah. You can see it on them.”

Deri then launched a harsh attack on Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, calling her “wicked.” He also took a veiled swipe at Supreme Court Justice Solberg and said he does not understand the position of some religious figures who support sanctions against the world of Torah. “I am amazed by those who have a kippah on their heads, who are leading the sanctions and the persecution of the world of Torah, may God have mercy! It is impossible to understand this. May God have mercy, there is no explanation for it. I am surprised that they do not understand what Torah learners are. As for the secular people, I am not surprised, they do not know what Torah is.”

He later also referred to the Basic Law: Torah Study and its passage. “And therefore yesterday we had to carry out this protest, we passed the Basic Law: Torah Study, and with God’s help we will pass it in the first reading, the second reading and the third reading as well.”

Deri added that the arrests of yeshiva students are, in his view, a spiritual harm to the people of Israel, especially during war and security threats. “The arrests of Torah learners are a great accusation against the people of Israel. When we are surrounded by enemies, when the Iranians and Hezbollah all day long think about how to destroy the people of Israel.”

He concluded by calling for strengthening Torah study and viewing it as a central factor in protecting the people of Israel. “May we merit to stop all this drift. We need merits, how many miracles we are seeing, and unfortunately we see those who do not appreciate the value of Torah study and persecute them.”

Deri made the remarks at the sheva berachot for the daughter of his close associate Yosef Chaim Kalef, a behind-the-scenes figure in Shas. Rabbi Shmuel Betzalel, a member of the Council of Torah Sages and head of the Porat Yosef yeshiva, praised Deri at the event and said: “Rabbi Aryeh devotes his life for the public. There are complaints, why does he do this? He should do that. I came here in his honor, to strengthen him, to tell him well done, and to appreciate him. May he continue, with the lion’s roar, God willing, to lead the world of Torah, which is growing more and more.”