Aryeh Deri Strengthens Ties with Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, Affirming Shas' Religious Leadership

Shas party leader Aryeh Deri visited Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, the spiritual leader of Shas and Chief Sephardic Rabbi of Israel, at his residence on Friday morning for their weekly consultation. During the meeting, Rabbi Yosef engaged Deri in a detailed discussion on Sabbath laws. This encounter follows Deri's recent reconciliation with Rabbi Yosef, which helped ease tensions regarding the party's leadership.

As part of ongoing negotiations, a framework was proposed where Deri would sign a document or a party statute clause affirming that Shas' religious decisions will follow the path of the party's founder, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, as interpreted by his son, Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef. This move aims to establish Rabbi Yosef's central religious authority within Shas without formally appointing him as president of the Council of Torah Sages at this stage.

Additionally, Deri held a lengthy two-hour conversation this week with Rabbi Moshe Maya, the senior member of Shas' Council of Torah Sages. Rabbi Maya expressed his full trust in Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, calling him the son and successor of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef and stating, "I am already weak, and I rely entirely on Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef. His word is decisive."

Reports also revealed that Momo Deri, Aryeh Deri's brother, played a key role in mediating between the parties to reach these understandings, alongside former minister Ariel Atias. These developments mark a significant step in consolidating religious authority and leadership unity within Shas.