Rav Ovadiah Yosef has had a conundrum to deal with.
Ever since Aryeh Deri announced that as soon as his period of "moral turpitude" is completed he will return to politics, Shas has felt threatened. Deri is the former charismatic chairman of Shas that brought it to heights never again achieved since his departure.
On the one hand, it will not be simple to put Deri back in his former position, as others have moved up the ranks, and the position is not available. On the other hand, Deri could potentially harm Shas if he starts or joins a competing party.
Rav Ovadiah Yosef said to Deri in a recent conversation, "You need to be the Chief Rabbi of Israel". (source: NRG)
This is the Joke of the Day because even though Deri has rabbinical ordination (from Rav Yosef), he has never served in a rabbinical position. Just the fact that he learned in kollel until he joined politics, and then learned in kollel again while sitting in jail for a couple of years, does not make him worthy of the job of Chief Rabbi of Israel, nor that of Chief Rabbi of any city leading up to the higher position. To send Deri to the Chief Rabbinate simply to avoid a conflict in Shas seems to me to be the ultimate joke.
Given the lack of qualifications of the current Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi, the two would make a great pair.
ReplyDeleteBesides, who cares about qualifications? The Chief Sefardi rabbi takes his orders from Rav Yosef no matter what his own knowledge and authority.
good point Garnel
ReplyDeleteI would not be surprised if Rav Ovadiah actually said it as a joke ever so gently hinting to Deri that he is not so happy with the rumors.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason peoplre seem to forget that Gedolim can have a very well developed sense of humor too.
If this is true i'm sure Rav Ovadia is having a good laugh at the secular press right now...