Religion &/vs. Politics The many faces Of Aryeh Deri

 

HOW MANY FACES will Aryeh Deri show Israel?

    Aryeh Deri the criminal.

    Aryeh Deri the sacrificial lamb.

    Aryeh Deri the reluctant leader.

ONE THING DERI IS NOT is modest. According to a Times of Israel article headlined Shas head Deri tells supporters: Your cries have reached me Deri told a follower who contacted him by phone - the call was broadcast for all to hear - that Your cries reach all the way to the north,” he said. “I love you, and I promise you one thing, my brothers. I have not forgotten what the Maran [Shas’s late spiritual leader Ovadia Yosef] told me in the hospital before he died. He held my hands, cried, and said to me, ‘Aryeh, I am asking you, promise me two things: To continue to care for my sons, the precious poor, and that heaven and Judaism will be loved even more.”

Unless I suddenly don't know how to read - and admittedly I did not hear either Deri's or Yosef's words - I don't see where the late Shas figurehead had anything to say to or about Deri other than he was "evil," and that is from a leaked exchange between the rabbi and one of his followers.

A Wikipedia entry notes that

Since 1999, several of Shas's MKs, including Aryeh Deri, Rafael Pinhasi, Yair Levy, Ofer Hugi, and Yair Peretz have been convicted of offences including fraud and forgery. In addition, elected MK Shlomo Benizri was convicted of bribery, conspiring to commit a crime and obstruction of justice on 1 April 2008. Benizri subsequently resigned and Mazor Bahaina, number thirteen on the Shas list, replaced him.

The party was mired in scandal after the indictment and subsequent conviction and imprisonment of its former party leader, Aryeh Deri, on corruption charges in 1999. While Yosef distanced the party from Deri and installed Yishai as the new party head, many Shas voters saw Deri as the victim of a discriminatory political witch-hunt and continue to support him.

According to one web site: : Former Shas Party leader Aryeh Deri was convicted Wednesday by the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court on one of the five charges brought against him in a public wrongdoing trial where he was accused of corruption and conflict of interest.

Deri has already served a three-year sentence on criminal charges after being convicted of accepting bribes from close aides.

The current case had to do with five counts of fraud and breach of trust for actions he committed as Interior Ministry director-general from 1996 to 1998 and as interior minister from 1988 to 1993.

OK, there are those who will criticize this scrivener for daring to repeat what has been all over the Israeli press and most Jewish media outside of Israel.

Why pick on poor Deri when other Israeli politicians - and the list is embarrassingly long - also have been involved in scandals, court dates, and incarceration for a few.

Because, simply, Deri wants to - and will if Shas' Council of Torah Sages has its way - lead Shas, ostensibly a party representing observant Sefardi Jews.

The one politician who could have led Shas, Eli Yishai, bailed and formed his own political party.

The whole mess played out on Israeli Channel 2 when someone - Deri accuses Yishai - of dishonoring R. Yosef by "leaking" negative comments R. Yosef made about Deri. How that dishonors the late R. Yosef is beyond my ken.

According to the Wikipedia entry for Deri:

On the 28th of December 2014, Channel 2 released video footage in which the founder of Shas, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, can be seen harshly attacking Deri. Yosef called Deri a wicked man and a thief. He accuses him of being an too independent too follow any authority. The release of these tapes has been referred to as the Doomsday Weapon against Deri. That same day Deri handed a resignation letter to the rabbinical board of Shas who refused to accept it. On the following day, December 29, Deri presented his resignation to the Parliaments' chairman Yuli-Yoel Edelstein

You can read more about the remarks at the following URLs:

Jewish Press: http://www.jewishpress.com/tag/aryeh-deri/

Jerusalem Post: http://tinyurl.com/o2e3b6a

Feathers in the wind

I do not apologize for failing to accord titles to some of the people mentioned below. They simply are, IMO, undeserving of their titles.

On מוצי שבת Dvarim/Hazon, Shalom Cohen of Shas’ Council of Sages, called all who wear a knitted kippa (כפה סגורה) “Amalek.” while his Iraqi controller sat – or perhaps slept – in a chair next to Cohen. (To be fair, Yosef is old and he has been, perhaps still is, ill.)

Photo courtesy of Kikar HaShabat

The silence of the rabbis was deafening.

I have yet to see any so-called “orthodox” rabbi chastise Cohen publically.

There have been a few objections to the way haredi soldiers are treated in haredi neighborhoods, but NOTHING from any well respected rabbis in Israel or elsewhere – read the U.S. ABOUT Cohen’s remarks. Nothing.

R. Marc Angel, in a personal note, wrote “The words of Rabbi Cohen are despicable.” He also said that Rabbi Daniel Bouskila wrote a sharp critique on behalf of the Sephardic Educational Center (SEC) but where is the critique? The SEC Web site ( http://www.secjerusalem.org/ ) is “coming soon.” Perhaps the “sharp critique” is on Facebook. I don’t “do” Facebook or Twitter.

Both Cohen and Yosef have tried to back-peddle, claiming that what Cohen meant to say was that only the leaders of the political parties that refuse to cave to Shas are “Amalekim.”

I’m put in mind of the gossiper who finally realized the harm he caused.

He went to his rabbi and asked how he could make amends.

The rabbi told him to go home, take a feather pillow, cut it open, and scatter the feathers to the four winds.

The gossiper did as he was told.

Feeling no better, he returned to the rabbi and reported that he still felt bad. Was there more to the punishment?

Yes, said the rabbi, now go out and gather up all the feathers and make a pillow.

But, the gossiper replied, that’s impossible; the winds scattered them too far.

THAT, said the rabbi, is what happens when you utter untruths. Like the feathers, they cannot be retrieved, cancelled.

Cohen, in his self-centeredness – "If you are not like me, you’re not Jewish" – didn’t gossip but he most certainly caused a חלול השם. He disgraced himself. He disgraced his master. He disgraced Shas. He proved that the Council of Sages is misnamed, for a true “sage” never would utter the words he uttered.

We are told that the Temple was destroyed and most of us exiled because of baseless hatred – political and physical internecine warfare; Jews against Jews.

There is an abomination sitting where the Temple stood. I can write without concern of contradiction that the third Temple will not rise in my lifetime; if it did, it would be doomed as were the first two and we – Israelis – will be banished from the land (if not slaughtered by our enemies).

Why?

BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT LEARNED FROM THE PAST.

Simple.

We are proving we are not one people concerned for one another. We are opposing groups of people who refuse to compromise, to coexist with people of differing outlooks.

Cohen’s words have been scattered to the four winds, carried on the silence of the “gadolim” – the “name” rabbis.

Perhaps some rabbis have spoken out in the confines of their own synagogues – mine have not – but whispering that Cohen’s words are “despicable” isn’t enough; the rabbis have to cast off their fear of the rabbinical mafia in Israel; American rabbis have allowed themselves to be cowed too long by the Israeli rabbinute, an organization more political and profit-focused than concerned with the religious welfare of the average Jew.

Cohen & Company – Mizrahi and Ashkenazi haredim – are far out of line calling other Jews “Amalekim” simply because these Jews disagree with them. Whether they are referring only to the likes of Bennet and Lapid or to everyone who owns neither a black hat or black suit, the stupidity of Cohen’s remark is inexcusable. Yosef’s remarks are too little, too late (by a week).

As for the gadolim – they may remain “gadol” in their own eyes and the eyes of their followers, but from my perspective, their silence reduces them to “katanim.”

If my knit kippot make me less a Jew than Yosef, Cohen, and the misnamed Council of "Sages," that's fine with me. I don't WANT to be associated with such people.

On the other hand, I never will tell ANY Jew he, or she, is not a Jew because we have different perspectives.

I accept the North African (Sefardi) approach: I'm a Jew. You are (1) observant like me, (2) less observant than me, or (3) more observant than me.

But we're all Jews.

Even Yosef, Cohen, and the Council of Sages (from Chelm).

Rabbinical Silence

 

What does your rabbi say?

According to a member of Shas’ Council of Torah Sages and the head of the influential Porat Yosef Yeshiva, Shalom Cohen, a Jew who wears a knitted kippa - - is NOT a Jew (see http://yohanon.blogspot.com/2013/07/youre-not-jew.html).

I rail against Muslims who remain silent following an Islamist attack on innocents. If they are so committed to their adopted countries, why don’t they speak out against the Islamists’ atrocities?

Cohen gave his speech Saturday night.

Naftali Bennet of the (Israeli) Bayit Yehudi (Jewish Home) party took issue with Cohen’s remarks. Bennet’s remarks, along with a video of Cohen’s talk – in Hebrew to a receptive audience – is covered on the haredi web site, Kikar HaShabat (see http://tinyurl.com/q4nbc9r). The Times of Israel carried an article based on the Kikar HaShabat posting on Sunday at http://tinyurl.com/q9p5k2p.

It's now Monday.

Arutz 7 ( http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/169910 ) carried an article claiming that Cohen " did not mean to disparage all religious Zionists, but only the leadership of the Bayit Yehudi party" according to unidentified "sources."

"The words that were spoken last night in a lesson at the study hall of Maran [Rabbi Ovadia Yosef] were spoken in great pain and were only intended toward the leaders of the Bayit Yehudi and their supporters, who have declared war upon the world of Torah and yeshivot”

According to Arutz 7, Cohen has refused to take back his cruel invective against the religious Zionists. When contacted by Arutz Sheva after the initial publication of the sermon, he simply said, “leave me alone and don't bother me.”

I have yet to see any rabbis of note - or any rabbis at all - speak out about Cohen's remarks - pro or con, for or against, or even aghast.

Perhaps they are not aware of their fellow rabbi's remarks. The only places I saw the comment were on the Times of Israel, Arutz Sheva, and Kikar HaShabat. I don't frequent Kikar HaShabat, but maybe the rabbis do. (The advertisements on Arutz 7 often are not appropriate for rabbinical eyes.)

Cohen's remarks are hardly as news worthy as 9-11-2001, but still, within Jewish circles, the remarks should get some attention.

Are our rabbis to be like the Muslims' imams and remain silent? Are Jews of all types to likewise remain silent in face of this person's comments? Apparently Ovadia Yosef will remain silent.

This is NOT a "tempest in a teapot." It is an affront to all Jews whose approach to Judaism is different that Cohen's and Shas'.

I would not have the chutzpah to tell Shas to get a new spiritual leader; keeping the Yosef clan in power is a choice only Shas should make. By the same token, I will not suggest that Shas clean up its political house of ill repute.

But I can, and I will, look elsewhere for both religious and religio-political leadership

After all, according to Cohen and Shas, I am not a Jew; I wear a knitted kippa - proudly. On Shabat, I have the chutzpah to not only wear a knitted kippa but a colorful knitted kippa! (My knitted kippa has nothing to do with either a political or religious perspective; I simply think it allows my hair to "breathe" and might help forestall a bald spot; so far, so good.)

I was "Jew enough" for the old Mifdal (National Religious Party) and I am "Jew enough" for Bayit Yehudi. But I guess I am not "Jew enough" for Shas.

If it's all the same to Cohen & Company, I'll keep my knitted kippot, my weekday black ones, my Shabat red one, and the others I wear on haggim. Since my choice of kippot makes me "not Jewish" I'll stay clear of Shas congregations - in Israel, there always is another congregation down the street where I AM a Jew.

 

If the TinyURL for Kikar haShabat fails, the full URL is:

http://www.kikarhashabat.co.il/%D7%91%D7%A0%D7%98-%D7%A2%D7%9C-%D7%94%D7%A8%D7%91-%D7%A9%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%9D-%D7%9B%D7%94%D7%9F-%D7%AA%D7%AA%D7%91%D7%99%D7%99%D7%A9%D7%95-%D7%9C%D7%9B.html

If the Tiny URL for the Times of Israel fails, the full URL is:

http://www.timesofisrael.com/shas-leader-says-modern-orthodox-not-jewish/?utm_source=The+Times+of+Israel+Daily+Edition&utm_campaign=27675e3a5e-2013_07_14&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_adb46cec92-27675e3a5e-54477781>http://www.timesofisrael.com/shas-leader-says-modern-orthodox-not-jewish/?utm_source=The+Times+of+Israel+Daily+Edition&utm_campaign=27675e3a5e-2013_07_14&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_adb46cec92-27675e3a5e-54477781

Who’s evil? Look inward

Is Ovadia Yosef senile?

According to numerous reports, Iraqi R. Ovadia Yosef is calling Ashkenazi R. David Stav “a wicked man,” someone “dangerous to Judaism” who had “no fear of God at all.”

Electing R. Stav as Israel’s Chief Ashkenazi rabbi would be “bringing idolatry into the temple,” according to R. Yosef.

His inflammatory and derogatory statements are blamed for an attack on R. Stav by haredi youth as he was leaving a wedding in Jerusalem. (http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=10059)

Does R. Yosef know this man personally? One Web site stated that they had never met. So one assumes the Iraqi has been following R. Stav’s activities at Tzohar. One source suggested that R. Ovadia knows nothing about R. Stav but the Iraqi has become a tool of his “advisors.”

The Mizrachi rabbi may have reason for concern. R. Stav says he wants to make not only rabbinate offices more welcoming, but also remodel the Israeli face of the Jewish religion in general. “I am from the world of Torah and Zionism. I am not subordinate to the ultra-Orthodox functionaries or to the politics of the Haredi Torah world,” Stav says.

In a statement, Tzohar called R. Yosef’s remarks a testimony to “the urgent need for change across the rabbinate” and said he should “repent and ask forgiveness.”

“We protest the incitement voiced yesterday by Rabbi Ovadia Yosef,” Tzohar said. “Israel needs a rabbinate that will connect it to Judaism, and not antagonize.”

Yosef sustained criticism from several rabbis, most of them religious Zionists. Yosef has "crossed every boundary," said Rabbi Haim Drukman.

"Does he think that speaking that way about someone you've never met is ethical? Halachic? Jewish?" said Education Minister Rabbi Shai Piron. “Why? Why does Rabbi Ovadia have to curse [Rabbi Stav],” he wrote on Facebook. “Does he think that that this will bring people closer to Torah and to Judaism? Does he think that to speak this about a person he has never met is moral? Halacha? Jewish?”

Meanwhile, religious Zionist Rabbi Benjamin Lau on Monday called for all political leaders "from the president on down" to cease all meetings with Yosef. "It's a humiliation," he said.

The religious Zionist movement, the organization noted, did not need the permission of Torah sages to field candidates and “knows how to manage the religious Zionist tradition for all of Israel.”

Assuming that R. Yosef is responding to information fed him by his advisors, it remains fairly certain that R. Yosef is suffering from senility. His recent pronouncements, both within a religious context and within the political context, leave no question as to his deteriorating mental capacity.

Israel needs another Israel Meir Lau or Yosef Messas, rabbis who guard halacha while keeping it alive and in the current era.

The competition of the Ashkenazi (!) chief rabbinate – in which the Iraqi should have no voice – has turned into לשון ברע … just in time for Rosh Hodesh Av.

R. Yosef and Shas should be ashamed.

Mourning in Nissan

Making a mountain out of a mole hill

One of the Israeli haredi political party Shas’ sub-leaders (all of whom report to R. Ovadia Yosef), claim that "Holocaust Remembrance Day does not apply to haredi [ultra-Orthodox] Jews.”

According to an article in the Israel HaYom ( http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=8537), Shas party Co-chairman Aryeh Deri said in an interview with haredi radio station Kol Barama set to air Thursday night said that “"Personally, I don't see any sanctity or distinctiveness in this day. Israel's Chief Rabbinate has designated the 10th of Tevet [the Hebrew month corresponding to December-January] as a general mourners' day, and that is they day when, religiously speaking, we remember the victims of the Holocaust.”

The month of Nissan, in which Passover falls, traditionally allows only limited mourning (death in immediate family excepted).

While Deri’s remarks, if accurately translated by Israel HaYom, are harsh, he does have a basis for his position.

Holocaust Remembrance Day 5773 (2013) was aligned with the beginning of the Warsaw (Poland) ghetto’s uprising. Deri challenged the date choice, noting there were other uprisings in other ghettos at different times.

According to the Israel HaYom article, Deri allegedly said "No one can come and tell us about the Holocaust. The Holocaust Remembrance Day that 'they' declared because of the Warsaw ghetto doesn't apply to us as haredi Jews," he said.

From my personal perspective, and while I might agree with Deri and the haredim regarding mourning during the month of Nissan, I contend that the holocaust indeed applies to Sefardim – a group Shas purports to represent - both directly and indirectly.

The nazis destroyed Sefardi communities throughout the Mediterranean region – Rhodes and Soloniki to name but two. According to a table at http://www.holocaustchronicle.org/holocaustappendices.html, 80 percent of all Greek Jews were murdered by the nazis; in Italy, “only” 20 percent of the Jewish population was murdered.

Map by worldatlas, copyright GraphicMaps.com

Indirectly, the nazis – with the enthusiastic help of the Muslims – managed to slaughter Jews in Iran, in Israel, and elsewhere in the Muslim world. While not round-ups a la Europe, the Muslims simply murdered Jews where they found them, similar to pogroms in Russia, the Ukraine, and elsewhere in that region.

My personal “bottom line”: While I would prefer the Holocaust Remembrance Day be linked to the Hebrew calendar, as is Israel Independence Day, and that the link be to a date in a month other than Nissan, Deri and his boss need to open their eyes to the fact that the holocaust was not “just” an Ashkenazi thing; indeed, it was not “just” a Jewish thing. See the table at http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/NAZIS.TAB1.1.GIF for a breakdown of the nazis’ victims and how they were “eliminated.”

It’s a shame that Deri and his fellow haredim can’t pick their fights a little more sanely. If the haredim are trying to recruit people to their side, to see their point of view, Deri’s remarks are counter-productive. The remarks can only serve to drive observant Jews farther from the haredi camp and to set fast the helonim in their opinion of the haredim.

This mountain, all things and timing considered, should have been left as a mole hill.