Deri is back, Yishai licks his wounds • A difficult week at the AAA party

On Monday afternoon, while running around the corridors of the Knesset, my cell phone rang. When I finished the call, I was shocked. A significant change had taken place at Harav Yosef's home in the Yishai – Deri department.

Since the former Shas chairman Aryeh Deri left Ma'asiyahu prison gates on his way back home, there was a multi-determined and united opinion at the Yosef home: "This man cannot come back to Shas." They understood his pain at being outcast as head of the party, but would not forgive him for the collection of posters which were hung against them in the streets of Jerusalem for months. He reiterated that he had no connection to the posters, but they found it difficult to believe and forgive.

He attended their celebrations, they participated in his, but that was the start and end of their connection, the same connection which in previous years was so tight is was astonishing to see.

A new contact was built - contact with Eli Yishai, chairman of the present party. The new ideal also penetrated into the office of President of the Council of Sages Hgr"a Joseph, who began to realize that the new chairman is much more convenient and disciplined. Many more visits with VIPs (Benjamin Netanyahu, his messengers, Ehud Barak, Shaul Mofaz, etc.), regular updates from Yishai to the Rabbi, and questioning his opinion every step of the way - all these and more gave the Rabbi the feeling that indeed, after many years, Shas has become a party which listen to his voice and his voice only.

And then a creaking sound was heard.

Suddenly Shas stopped delivering the goods. More and more demanded areas remained unanswered. Individual's pilgrimage to 45 Hakablan Street, some were allowed to enter the inner sanctum, others were arrested in the kitchen or living room. Among the youngest son of the Rabbi, Rabbi Moshe Yosef, a feeling began gnawing at him that something in the party is missing its mark, and that the man who was thrown out in disgrace - can definitely change things, if only he would be allowed to come home.

This part of the puzzle must be attributed to the strong friendship between Rabbi Moshe with Minister Ariel Atias, the man whose position in the Rabbi's home is just as strong as the number one status in the party. After working in the past at the head of Rabbi Moshe life factory - 'Badatz Beit Yosef "- and despite the years that he has done in the various government offices (communications and then - construction and housing), there still remains in his heart a warm place for the organization, and small birds whisper that from time to time he is also seen in their offices; longing, but not only. This is the apple of Minister Atias's eye.

On the surface peace and brotherhood prevailed in the Shas party. Everyone working in harmony with everyone. Beneath the surface, sizzling intrigue. Only important figures will go into to Hgr"a. There are those who have cared to transfer media images free of one Minister or another. Each of the sides organize secret meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has learned to juggle nicely between the hawks, to respect this one, to compliment the other, to buy them all and not pay anyone anything. And in between, to arrive at the Rabbi's celebrations, to receive a kiss on the cheek, to place a Kippa on someone's head, to mutter a few verses - and get away from the Shas swamp.

The record has never released statements sided against each other. Off the record leak machines operated 24 hours a day. Secrets were released into the air from within rooms to the outside world, interior fights were washed for journalist's ears, and everyone, like by all good Jews - everyone rejoiced.

But this friendship between the Rabbi's son and the Minister of Housing had begun to mature into a program: Deri's return to the party. The two friends spent hours upon hours trying to weave a suitable layout. It was certainly not easy considering the enormous love Hgr"a had towards Eli Yishai, a love I myself witnessed not once and not twice. On the Rabbi's terms, until the coming of Mashiach, Eli Yishai was supposed to lead the party. Period. This is the truth, and there is none other.

"Moshe with Aryeh, Yehudit with Eli"

On Shabbos, after davening, Minister Ariel Atias and Aryeh Deri were often observed standing and chatting in the streets of the neighborhood of Har Nof probably discussing the treatment of their children (Atias) and small grandchildren (Deri), but in between there were apparently plans being drawn. How to deal with the Rabbi's love towards Eli, how to explain that it is good that Aryeh Deri return home. And most importantly: How do you convince the devoted bride, Yehudit Yosef.

It is most famously known that the Yosef couple disagreed on this point. "Moshe wants Aryeh, Yehudit wants Eli," Every journalist knew, even secular. And believe it or not, sometimes the power of a woman supersedes any force on earth. This was also the case here.

At night, Eli slept peacefully, relaxed and calm from any rumors about Aryeh's comeback. "On the contrary, when he returns, Shas will receive him wholeheartedly," he told reporters during the few times he agreed to address the issue. Looking back it was not the truth. He certainly did not want or agree to his return, but he was hopeful that Aryeh was not willing to go back to less than the role of chairman. Oh, and that the Rabbi (Yehudit will certainly help me, she will convince him) will not agree.

Even after the holiday interview, where Aryeh revealed in an interview an appeasement to Shas that he is willing to go back even with smaller terms than those presented in the past, Yishai was completely calm. Even after the release of the media spin which stated that Aryeh will be party chairman (some say Atias blew them, not wanting to lie to journalists, this is not his way, but because he knew he could convince the Rabbi. Atias's personnel vehemently deny, of course) Yishai walked around peacefully and calmly. His men laughed in the face of any journalist who tried to grope if there is something behind it.

In fact, the Rabbi himself did not want to hear any word or half word about it. Eli is a trustee in his home, he said again, and it was clear to all meddlers in the cauldron that as long as Eli's strongholds at the home of the Rabbi had not changed there was not much that could be done.

Here is where the million dollar question comes in, the unsolved mystery: What caused the Rabbanit Yehudit Yosef on the night of Sunday - Monday morning this week to change her mind after so many years? When Yishai recounts her expression as she heralded the decision, he cannot believe this is the same woman whom he knew until now. The face was not the same face; the tone was not the same tone. That's what Tzupy, his dedicated wife felt too, when she heard the harsh words spoken by the First Lady at the Rabbi's home.

Is it the birth of the first grandchild which changes a woman, so that her decisions turn one hundred and eighty degrees? Is it this or that survey (there were hundreds of similar surveys in recent years) which brought her to a revolution which shook the party? There was no recent quarrel between her and Eli, the excellent relationship between them was as powerful as before (the only tensions she had were with Atias, with Eli she never had anything beyond conventional arguments). She also never had a fight with Tzipi Yishai. Nothing had happened.

But from the moment she decided what she decided, there was little power in the world to stop the process. Rabbinic figures and other members entered the house, trying to persuade her, then the Rabbi – who she had managed to lock in her decision. Even world leaders knocked on the door, in a last attempt to modify the decree. Nothing worked.

Suddenly new songs were being sung at the Rabbi's home, as well as the home of Minister Yishai. "Why does he continue to insist Why does he not understand that there is no choice and he must vacate his chair for Aryeh?" side to: "Why is she doing this to me, what happened, what did we do to her?" - The sounds were harsh and creakingly powerful.

The Yishai before Monday and the Yishai after

On Monday afternoon, when Eli Yishai was aware of the crisis, his aides and advisers continued wandering around the Knesset feeling smug. They mocked my sources, claiming I don't know what I'm talking about. Eli looked out into the bleachers stressed, nervous, tense. In between votes he took his driver and went out on a "war of his lifetime." There was hardly a Rabbi in the country he had not visited, exaggerated of course. His entry into the Rabbi's home began to be truncated, controlled. Suddenly he remembered, perhaps, MK Chaim Amsalem and his stories of not being let into the Rabbi to state his side.

If Monday's Yehudit was not the Yehudit of recent years, so it is with Eli Yishai. Monday's Eli was no longer the 'normal' Eli. No more songs sung about full compliance with the Rabbi, that the Rabbi can never be convinced - just hear his opinion and act without question. No, one cannot judge him, one cannot judge a person in a time of distress, and with his corpse (the role of chairman of Shas) lying in front of him, but he suddenly turned into the tough Eli, stubborn Eli, Tunisian Eli who will not compromise up until the smallest detail.

It's not the Rabbi, it is Yehudit, and he once again reassured his conscience. 'If it was up to the Rabbi, he would not have replaced me, "he told himself. Wait, is that not what Amsalem claimed all these years? Is it not he who invented the concept of" family members lead the Rabbi "? Eli was not supposed to fall for that, and he fell into it without thinking of the future damage.

His closest advisers, instead of thinking about damage control, talking to the media, dealt primarily at keeping themselves in the bunker and darkness. War as in war. Do not answer journalists, not even briefly, Eli is not talking, he emerges briefly to the plenary and hurries to escape. If an ostrich buries its head deep in the sand do we not see its body? But this is not their first media error, and this is not the time to ask them to reflect.

The agreement was signed. Its details do not change the overall picture: Hgr"a Joseph changed his mind and ordered the return of Aryeh Deri as head of the party. Eli fought the war of a lifetime, implored, and succeeded in tearing the decree or at least slightly softening it. He will not be skinned at once, but it will be done gradually.

On paper he will remain number one, will be responsible for the functioning of the Knesset (come on), Aryeh will be the man in charge of the area (shame, CEO Nati Lasri started doing a nice job). Afterwards all corners concerning the Moroccan-Tunisian honor were shut. The figures (so unimportant), the titles (who cares) and what we get are three vertices under one crown.

Secretary of the Council of Torah Sages will read a resolution which does not specify the name of the chairman, on the one hand. However, there are three vertices for the party: Deri - Yishai - Atias. Whether you understand the order of the individuals on the list, you do so at your own risk. Since, the Knesset list order will be determined on the date required for submission of lists, namely, in a few weeks. Assuming that in most of the decisions Atias and Deri will fall into line, Yishai will remain in the minority. But it is still too early to know how the internal motion relations will be built in the future.

The strong friendship between Eli Yishai and Yehudit Yosef will never return to be what it was. I would carefully evaluate a prolonged dudgeon; a battle between Eli Yishai and Ariel Atias will be much more public, knives will be mercilessly stabbed and on the hatred between Aryeh and Eli there is no need to elaborate.

In reality, both Eli and Aryeh are not satisfied with the result. Aryeh had to give up on his dearest wish - a title chairman, and Eli - no need to explain why. With the stroke of his own hand he became part of a trio leadership. No longer leading a chairman who determines everything. But during a moment of truth they have both internalized that after all one cannot go against the wishes of the Rabbi, except work on their own qualities and surrender.

That’s how Shas will enter the fore coming election. May Hashem help them and Aryeh conquer the surface with his charisma, but many will not forget the two vertices (Eli-Aryeh) and their battle for honor and prestige. No compliance to Daas Torah, zero "to all that you are told".

Who lost, who won

And two losers - at least with respect to image - the story, except for the party itself, headed by A. A. A. (Aryeh, Eli, Atias).

The first, Ariel Atias. While he has been treated, as third to leadership – and this is his immediate profit - but his image was damaged: for years he emphasized the fact that he is a full-time minister, one whose party, its leadership and its surface was of no concern to him. After being exposed to media coverage that "he is the one that cooked the porridge" - he will have to work hard to convince these statements are true.

Second, is the Rabbanit Yehudit Yosef. In recent years she made extraordinary efforts to prove that she is not affecting the rabbi's opinion, and that she is not involved in politics. She is the one that takes care of the Rabbi, watching over him day and night, worried about his health and preparing his favorite dishes - that's all.

Now, after there is no one that does not know that changing her own opinion changed the Rabbi's opinion – it will be hard to explain how that happened. It is recommended she take a crash course with the First Lady of the State of Israel, Sara Netanyahu, who for years has been suffering at the hands of the media, to change even slightly, so far without success the negative image of "interfering".

Finally, the huge loser in the whole story is Shas party, AAA party. Go explain to Masuda in Sderot what happened to the Rabbi's words spoken in front of video cameras that Eli Yishai will be chairman forever (or until the coming of Mashiach). Go Tell Buzaglo from Yerucham why household members should change the rabbi's opinion. Shas will mobilize all artillery forces, perhaps the Rabbi will land by helicopter straight to the outlying cities, Aryeh Deri will excite the masses and regain color to their cheeks.

But remember, this past's weeks damage will be hard to fix.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!