Aryeh Deri: We Survived a Difficult Year Without the Late Maran

Many thoughts arise concerning the past year with us. How could anyone forget the last Rosh Hashanah, when nobody dreamed it would be the last one with Maran, who, despite all the pain, could not be released from the hospital, as it became apparent at the last moment that he needed to be hospitalized due to a kidney issue.

In the last moment, we arranged to be with Maran. It was a great privilege to be there. We blew the shofar. It is hard to explain. I remember at Rosh Hashanah how Maran said everything; during meals, he recited all the hymns, as if summarizing life. Someone who never sat more than half an hour on Shabbat meals suddenly sat for more than two or three hours...! We sang all the old songs we forgot fifty, sixty years ago... We finished one song, started another, and he encouraged us... Then came Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simchat Torah.

The late Maran. Following his path

The public already had a certain feeling... There was much pain. On one hand, to be beside him and think about how he feels the terrible helplessness and the last part of his life. On the other hand, to see all his work, more action against decrees, against everything he did, thought of, and activated all his life. To think about everything, the draft law, passing the budget, and countless actions the malicious government rose against to possibly dismantle.

Everyone knows he should be eulogized properly. Every day there were three or four eulogies and there was also the great assembly. Who knows if we are eulogizing him properly? It's our duty. It's difficult when you now see the draft law and all the unclear questions, whom it fits, who decides, whom to appoint. Thank Hashem, we have the Council of Torah Sages, but we have this moment when you say Maran is not here. You imagine this is a question he would say thus, and that is a question he would think like this... However, today we are with the Council of Torah Sages, may they be separated for a good life, those who accompanied him for thirty years, they established with him the Council of Torah Sages, and it is very painful. We saw throughout this year reactions like, "Where is Maran? He was so proficient in this." Proficient in judicial matters, foreign issues, security issues, where is the clarity and straightforwardness and the responsibility on the shoulders... It's tough.

Yeshiva heads feel it more than scholars. They see difficult questions that only pure Torah knowledge should be. Even at night, I think about it. How I relied on him, you know you lean on a strong support, and even when I was somewhat broken or downcast, Maran may his memory be blessed would reassure and strengthen. He gives you a sense of mission.

Deri kissing Maran's hand. Archive photo from 1996

Until the very last moment, even in his final illness, did Maran stop guiding, or in those days had you been left without an answer?

Rabbi Aryeh Deri: "For me, even when he was in the hospital, we had to continue working. There were local elections, and there were questions almost every hour. We sat with him at the hospital and at home and asked about each authority and authority, changing representatives, adding representatives, all questions Maran held on himself. Every place. And even in the hospital, he answered. Even when we tried to prevent it, he wanted to continue with all his might."

Deri's announcement on Maran's passing outside the hospital

"I remember Friday of Sukkot's Intermediate Days, after all the hospitalization of Rosh Hashanah. On Sukkot, there was significant improvement and he returned home. Suddenly, we understood why. He received painkillers and he felt better and gave an outward feeling of improvement. It was Sunday morning, I prayed with him at home because it was difficult to take him to the synagogue, yet Maran was in prayer and joy. Then representatives of local authorities wanted to come, and Maran asked why I was not bringing them. He wanted to receive six local authorities in the afternoon. We set for one and one thirty; he felt really good that day. At twelve thirty in the afternoon, he lost consciousness, and there was a drop in sugar and blood pressure, and then he did not return. I canceled all meetings, some were already in Jerusalem. And on Saturday night, we admitted him for a final hospitalization. Sadly, it turned out that the kidneys collapsed and the situation was difficult; after overcoming the back problem, sadly, recovery was already impossible."

"On the last Friday, he seemed to have returned several years back, he received people, wanted to return to normal activity. And of course, one can't forget Maran's birthday... or his joy when his son, our teacher the Chief Rabbi Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef was crowned as the Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel at the Yohanan Ben Zakkai synagogue. Those who know what was behind the scenes... until eight thirty, a quarter to nine, everyone knew Maran was not going."

What really happened that surprised everyone with Maran's arrival to the coronation?

"Doctors knew that by natural terms, he was already leaving us. I remember wanting to know if he really wishes to attend the coronation and how much he desires it. And I saw that it burns within him, and that was the greatest gift he awaited. We made all the efforts and thank Hashem, Maran although could not speak even though he prepared the sermon, but he couldn't talk. Yet his happiness was immense when he donned the mitre and robe, and he listened to his son, may he be separated for a good life, blessing Shehechiyanu. It's hard to describe his outbreak of tears, of joy, of Maran."

What do you remember from those historical moments?

"It was emotional, and I will never forget. In the little car, we sat him on a chair, and I was afraid the chair might move, so I sat behind and held the chair, though it wasn't necessary, and then Maran looked forward and backward asking, 'Where is Aryeh...' I said to him, 'I'm here behind.' And Maran with a smile and bright face said, "So, was it worth going? Did you see the great joy?" Saying with tears, "Blessed Hashem, I thank Hashem, I thank you for the kindness, who was fortunate to see in his life how his son is crowned..."

Returning to those moments when you wanted to receive mayors from the north, but it was interrupted because he was hospitalized.

"Yes, the situation deteriorated. The hospitalization and then the dialysis we suddenly started."

How was that terrible feeling at that moment in the hospital when you knew the struggle between heaven and earth ended and Maran ascended upwards?

"Until the very last moment, we fought, I couldn't believe it would arrive. After many downs and ups. A day before passing, after a very difficult Shabbat. Maran woke from sedation, and we couldn't understand what he wanted. His face was pained. He cried out, and we couldn't understand. It was even worse that we didn’t understand his wants. Due to the sedation tube, there was swelling on the vocal cords. We saw he was suffering, I think he cried, 'It hurts, it hurts.' But it’s hard to explain. Then he slightly improved, we were optimistic, and suddenly a decline and the soul's departure, everything was a dream. Some parts I don't remember. It was a very long departure with ups and downs. It was apparent Maran did not want to leave us, and his soul desired to act more and more for his people, but we were not granted that. All his descendants were there, his grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. All the sons, others were not allowed to enter.

A tough year without Maran

"Professors struggled until the last moment not to let it happen. I remember in the middle the President Shimon Peres came and requested a personal favor to say goodbye to Maran. He approached the bed, kissed him on the forehead, while I was fortunate to hold his hand. I checked if there was any sense in the hand. Slightly conscious, but somewhat unclear until the last moment, for about two hours, there were cries and acceptance of the yoke of the kingdom of heaven, it was amazing. I will not forget this. The nurses who treated him wept bitterly, they could not handle it, saying he’s an angel. Everyone said that at the funeral.

"On one hand, we are fortunate for the special merit of everyone who was there together... for a few months. On the other hand, the pain is immense. The lack is immense."

A Year Without Maran, Facing Challenges

After everything, we remained alone in the terrible desolation. The feelings are hard, yet the mandate to act with greater strength and continue his path, how do we do it?

"There's a planned and organized campaign, regrettably targeted specifically at everything related to the Torah world, ultra-Orthodox Judaism, and the weaker segments, to hit them from all sides. It was a very tough year, but undoubtedly we'll cope. I believe thanks to Maran. Summing up a year without him, about the Torah-based education, boys' and girls' schools, despite all the decrees against the ultra-Orthodox community, they're using us like a stick and carrot... Thank Hashem, we succeeded; we ensured that no yeshiva closed, instead we even increased the number of students, all due to Maran. No schools need to be closed."

Yeshivas encounter very difficult situations; there are thoughts about supporting scholars, as it's not simple.

"Correct, yeshivas face extremely difficult situations, but it's Hashem's trials, and we... No doubt. The easiest is to collapse. Lapid cannot do what he did, everything he received from the Prime Minister, Bennett, Lieberman, Thank Hashem they won't succeed, anything from the coalition... I hope an end to the year and its curses and this government will leave, it's hard for the weaker and ultra-Orthodox communities. Let the year begin with a different government. And if you ask me who should apologize to the ultra-Orthodox public, the answer is that everyone I mentioned one by one. Everyone should do a soul-search: How many families have I harmed, took their bread, took money from small children, how many scholars have I hurt, how many kollels. I desecrated Shabbat and kosher."

What is the call to action for all of Israel who were his children and students?

"All of Israel needs to strengthen. We, too, need to do some soul-searching and strengthen more. Do we honor the great Torah sages as we should? Do we keep what they say? We must give them respect and priority in all matters. If we do so, then even those on the outside will honor them. In this context, I must note that politically, in the last year, there was excellent cooperation with the sectors, with Torah Judaism and everyone. I remember in our room, there is almost no week or two without sitting together. And when we sit together, we decide all Torah Judaism battles, whether it's the draft law, there is cooperation."

Regarding sectors and battles, is there a division among the Torah-observant public?

"Clearly, division is the biggest problem. There are ego issues, and everyone needs to overcome them. We too need to do soul-searching, and everyone needs to repair what he needs to fix, and ask forgiveness from everyone he hurt, that's each and every one of us."

Finally: A year without Maran, how do we survive going forward?

"It's tough, very tough. We feel the immense absence every day, every hour. We survived a hard year without Maran, yet his spirit and path enveloped us and set the direction and actions, and our hope is that with Hashem's help it will be a better year, and Maran's merit will protect us, and we will hear better news on all levels."