The Shas Party's clever attempt to skirt election law and offer blessings from Rabbi Ovadia Yosef in a manner that is closely tied to asking for votes has unraveled.
Rabbi Ovadia Yosef
Shas Agrees To Pull Free Smartphone Election App Seen As Trading Blessings For Votes
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
Do you remember the Sefardi haredi Shas political party's free smartphone app Maran Shlita that virtually follows Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef throughout his day and that allows users to send Yosef requests for blessings which Yosef can choose to answer?
The secular freedom from religion group Hiddush asked Elections committee head Judge Elyakim Rubinstein to ban distribution of the app late last week, claiming that the app was designed to convince people to vote for Shas based on the promise of receiving a blessing from Yosef.
Now Arutz Sheva is reporting that Rubinstein reached an agreement Thursday with Shas, and Shas will no longer distribue the app.
In its letter to Rubenstein asking him to ban the app, Hiddush reportedly noted that in four previous election campaigns, Shas illegally used blessings or amulets in exchange for votes.
"At least twice, the person who was behind this illegal use was the chairman of Shas at the time, the person who is responsible today for the party's election campaign, Rabbi Aryeh Deri," Hiddush noted.
Related Post: Secular Group Seeks Ban For Shas Smartphone App.