And the predecessor of the Rabbi of the Hagarash Cohen? Rabbi Aryeh Deri

April 27, 2014   

MK Aryeh Deri, or should I say, Rabbi Aryeh Deri, decided to return a little to the standard and the pages of the Gemara on the occasion of the days of preparation for the Matan Torah. Today he delivered a theoretical lesson to hundreds of yeshivot students. The lesson was delivered in Ashdod, as part of the 'Bein HaZaman Yeshivot Hazon Ovadia' named after the Grat Yosef zt"l, organized by Shas members in Ashdod - Amram Knafo and Avi Amsalem. The event was led by the Gaon Rabbi Shalom Cohen, president of the Council of Torah Sages and Rosh Yeshiva Porat Yosef, who carried the main burden for yeshivot students in preparation for the opening of summer time. But before the Rosh Yeshiva's burden, as mentioned, Deri delivered a theoretical lesson on a yeshivot topic. This is not the first time for Deri to deliver yeshivot or halakhic lessons, and he does so from time to time. Every year during the holiday break, several Bein HaZaman Yeshivot are held in the city of Ashdod, but this year - after the election of Avi Amsalem As a representative in the municipality on behalf of Shas, the number increased. Amsalem managed to obtain funding from the Authority to Combat Drugs and Alcohol, which he is one of the heads of, which despite its name helps many who do not meet this definition, and includes assistance to the needy and underprivileged. Courtesy of the Authority, the "Chazon Ovadia" yeshivot network was established in the name of the late Rabbi Yosef, which provided a place for spiritual ascension for hundreds of Torah scholars in the city. However, at the last minute, the mayor of Ashdod, Dr. Yechiel Lasri, decided not to allow the Authority to support the event, according to his associates, because it was a political event, at which the chairman of the Shas movement was also scheduled to speak - the law does not allow funding for this type of event. However, after a protest from the ultra-Orthodox representatives in the municipality, the mayor reversed his decision and even participated in the event. In a conversation with Haredim10, one of the municipality officials said that this is harassment by the municipality solely on a sectional basis, since it is a Torah event where only words of encouragement will be spoken, without any connection to politics. According to the same official, the funding in question does not exceed one thousand NIS and was supposed to be given for advertising only. It should be noted that many events held in the city of Ashdod for the secular public, to which members of Knesset are invited to speak, are funded by the municipality.