I have not really been paying close attention to the details of the hostile takeover of the Yated Neeman (Israeli edition) or the fighting that has been going on over there. It is one irrelevant (to me) group fighting with another irrelevant group (to me) about control of an irrelevant (to me) newspaper.

I did find this tidbit interesting. The following release went out over the PR Newswire:

Petition Against New York ultra-Orthodox Billionaire Shimon Glick - Thousands of Yeshiva Students in Israel & the US Sign Petition Calling on Glick to Withdraw Intention to Take over 'Yated Ne'eman'

TEL-AVIV, Israel, June 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --A petition is currently being circulated in the ultra-Orthodox street calling on New York ultra-Orthodox billionaire Shimon Glick to withdraw from his attempt to take over the 'Yated Ne'eman' newspaper by removing the Rabbi Eliashiv trustees from positions of influence in the newspaper. Tens of thousands of Yeshiva students in Israel and in the US have already signed the petition and many thousands more are expected to sign in the next few days. Sources close to 'Yated Ne'eman' stated that this is a dangerous attempt to hurt the Lithuanian stream of the 'Degel HaTorah' Party and weaken the power of this significant body by disconnecting it from the glorious rabbinical legacy of Rabbi Shach, and therefore it must be uprooted. It was also reported that the moves taken by Glick harm Rabbi Shach's enterprise and threatens rabbis and intellectuals closely associated with "Yated Ne'eman" and its supporters.

Rav Shach is long gone, Rav Shach appointed Rav Shteinman as a successor (supposedly) and according to the profile I read in the Mishpacha last week, Shimon Glick was a close talmid of Rav Shach. So, while I have no idea who is playing in who's court, the petition sounds kind of silly. I am sure people are more worried about their jobs than about this or that legacy.

I guess this fight means that one need not listen to Rav Chaim Kanievsky (who wrote a letter in this week's Yated supporting Rav Shteinman saying that Rav Elyashiv is sick and Rav Shteinman has taken over leadership of the generation) or Rav Shteinman or the various other rabbonim involved. I'll remember that when they start quoting those names about what they want me to do. Selective daas torah...

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