Aryeh Deri Meets Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef Amid Shas Leadership Tensions

Aryeh Deri, chairman of the Shas party, met on Thursday with Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, a member of the party's Council of Torah Sages and son of the late spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef. The meeting took place amid recent tensions within Shas regarding Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef's role in the party's spiritual leadership and efforts by his close associates to appoint him as president of the Council of Torah Sages, succeeding his father.

According to statements from Rabbi Yosef's home, Deri arrived with a personal letter from Rabbi Moshe Maya, the senior member of the Council, requesting that Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef formally assume responsibility for guiding and preserving his father's legacy within the party and its institutions. The letter emphasized that Shas has maintained the heritage of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef and that Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, as his designated successor, should lead the spiritual direction of the movement.

Rabbi Maya's letter also expressed support for Deri, highlighting that Rabbi Ovadia Yosef entrusted him with the leadership of Shas and praised his dedication in defending Torah values and the party against external challenges. During the meeting, Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef stressed the urgency of protecting Torah study and yeshiva students, calling it a legacy and duty to rally support for the Torah community.

The official Shas party did not respond to the detailed statement issued by Rabbi Yosef's office. The meeting and the letter come after reports of internal disputes, including claims that Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef's supporters discouraged voting for Shas in upcoming elections, raising concerns about a potential crisis within the party's spiritual leadership ahead of the polls.