In Knesset, at Last

There are not a lot of people — not even in a political world known for its betrayals and disappointments — who would sit in the roller-coaster cart that Yitzchak Pindrus, 48, has been sitting in these past few years and emerge with a smile.

Just six years ago, Pindrus was considered the prince of Degel HaTorah and a candidate for senior leadership positions. He was elected as the mayor of Beitar Illit at the tender age of 30. Then, after being instructed to do so by Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, Pindrus moved to Jerusalem and served as deputy mayor and chairman of the Degel HaTorah faction. He set the tone for every public issue that was raised in the capital city at the time. His future seemed bright.

But political life is cruel. The promotions from Jerusalem city council never came. Even a bid to serve as Elad’s mayor was quashed after a court disqualified him on procedural grounds.

But then the UTJ included him on its party list for Knesset — though not in a position where he was expected to serve. And in the most recent Knesset election, in the final hours of vote counting, the chareidi party was awarded one more seat, and Pindrus final ascended to the national stage.

Man of the Moment

He is currently conducting negotiations on behalf of Shas with the Likud, together with former minister Ariel Attias. Sources in Shas say he enjoys the full trust and admiration of the members of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah, as well as Shas chairman Aryeh Deri.

Meet the new MK from Shas, Attorney Moshe Arbel.

A father of five, Arbel lives in Petach Tikvah. In the past he served as the advisor to MK Yoav Ben-Tzur. When Aryeh Deri discerned that the young lawyer was skilled at navigating the corridors of the Justice Ministry, he decided to borrow him for his own office at the Interior Ministry. Since then, it’s all history. Arbel has become a confidant of Deri, the head of the bureau, and the closest person to him.

As a young man, Arbel learned in Yeshivas Nachalas Dovid, where he was considered an illui, and even published a sefer of chiddushim entitled Vayishma Moshe. After his marriage, he began serving as the rav in a shul in Petach Tikvah, where he grew up. In addition to learning, young Moshe served in the casualty identification unit in the IDF, and earned a degree in law.

Arbel was close to the rav of Jerusalem, Rav Shalom Mashash ztz”l, and was in charge of the Daat Shalom institute, which published the Rav’s work. After the Rav’s passing, Arbel managed the Rav Mashash Prize for Torah Literature.

In addition, Arbel has also served on public committees established by Prime Minister Netanyahu to deal with matters like Shabbos and kashrus on behalf of the Shas party.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 758)