Nine years have passed since the passing away of Maran the First of Zion, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef ztzel, and since then, the Shas Council of Torah Sages has been headed by Rabbi Shalom Cohen, “Khemesh Shalom”, who passed away early (Sunday) morning and was laid to rest today. Now Shas officials estimate that the spiritual leadership of the movement will return to the Yosef family and pass into the hands of the Chief Rabbi of Israel and Maran’s son, Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef.
Rabbi Shalom Cohen passed away early this morning, at the age of 91, and as mentioned, served for the past nine years as the president of the Council of Torah Sages and head of the Purat Yosef yeshiva. He was hospitalized last Thursday at the Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem after an infection was discovered in his leg and his condition deteriorated in recent days. Hundreds of thousands of people participated in his funeral that left the Port Yosef Yeshiva.
Hacham Shalom Cohen ztzel Photo: Aharon Krohn/Flash90
Rabbi Yosef will be appointed president of the Hachmihatora Council after he finishes his position as chief rabbi
Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef, the son of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef ztzel, and like his father serves as the Sephardic Chief Rabbi is expected to inherit the leadership of the Shas movement, however he will not be able to fulfill the role of president of the Council of Torah Sages in practice because he is still serving as the Sephardic Chief Rabbi. Therefore, the one who is expected to fill his place is Rabbi Shimon Abdani, the elder of the Rabbis in the Council of Torah Sages, until Rabbi Yosef finishes his position in a little less than a year.
Shas would have been happy to skip the appointment and were ready to operate without a president of the Council of Torah Sages for a short period, but since a particularly stormy year is expected during which elections will be held, Shas wishes to convey continuity and enjoy the support of a functioning Council of Sages.
Deri Photo: Flash 90
Appointment of Rabbi Yosef – a direct continuation of Deri’s rule
For Arye Deri, the appointment of Rabbi Yosef should be a direct continuation of establishing his control and rule over the movement. Deri was very close to Rabbi Shalom Cohen and the latter agreed with Deri on every issue that came before the Council of Torah Sages. Even with Rabbi Yosef, Deri maintains a particularly close and close relationship, and therefore the appointment will not bring about a change in the leadership of Shas or in its political or public conduct.