Shas Leader Aryeh Deri Urges Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef to Lead Party Legacy Amid Election Battle

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri met with Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef on Thursday morning at his residence to deliver a personal letter from Rabbi Moshe Maya, the senior member of the Council of Torah Sages. Rabbi Maya appointed Deri as his emissary to request that Rabbi Yosef continue to lead and guide the legacy of the late Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, the party's spiritual founder. The letter emphasized Rabbi Yosef's role as the heir to his father's leadership and the importance of preserving Rabbi Ovadia's teachings within Shas and its institutions.

During the meeting, Deri highlighted the critical political situation facing the party and the broader Torah community, warning against voter abstention amid attacks on yeshiva students and Torah study. He recalled Rabbi Ovadia's dedication to the Sephardic Torah world and urged all representatives and supporters to unite behind Rabbi Yosef's leadership to navigate the current challenges. Deri stressed the need for maximum voter turnout to prevent the left-wing from imposing harsh measures on the religious community.

Rabbi Yosef responded by affirming his commitment to the party and its mission, recalling how his father trusted and supported Deri's leadership. He warned that this election is the most crucial for the Torah world and yeshiva students, urging everyone not to stay home but to vote for Shas. Rabbi Yosef announced a new weekly leadership forum with Deri to discuss Torah and political matters, emphasizing unity and collective effort to protect the community.

He also spoke about the importance of Torah alongside the IDF, blessing soldiers and highlighting the inseparable bond between Torah study and national defense. Rabbi Yosef concluded by blessing the party's representatives and the entire Torah community, praying for peace and the ultimate redemption.

The meeting was documented exclusively by Kikar HaShabbat and marked a significant moment of Sephardic unity and renewed commitment to Shas's spiritual and political path ahead of the elections.