Degel HaTorah Election Slate: New Leadership Emerges

Degel HaTorah, the Lithuanian haredi (ultra-Orthodox) party, revealed its Knesset candidate list on Sunday, with Member of Knesset Yaakov Asher securing the first position and Yitzhak Pindrus taking second place.

The third slot on the list goes to Moshe Rosenthal, followed by Yehuda Weisfish in fourth position. Dudi Zaltz rounds out the top five candidates.

This lineup represents a significant reshuffling for the party, which traditionally forms part of the United Torah Judaism alliance alongside the Hasidic Agudat Yisrael faction. The placement of Asher at the head of the ticket, with Pindrus immediately behind him, signals the party's direction as it prepares for the upcoming election.

The new slate marks a notable departure from recent years, as Degel HaTorah's rabbinic leadership has decided to replace two veteran lawmakers: party chairman Moshe Gafni and MK Uri Maklev, both of whom have served multiple terms in the Knesset.

A statement issued from the home of Rabbi Dov Lando, a leading rabbinic authority for the party, explained the decision. According to the announcement, Rabbi Lando sent personal letters to both Gafni and Maklev expressing warm gratitude for their work in recent years, particularly praising their "complete obedience to the great Torah scholars" and their "excellent dedication" in fighting for the status of yeshiva students under rabbinic guidance.

However, the statement continued, "due to the need to refresh the ranks of Knesset members, the first two will leave the Knesset in order to bring in new representatives." The move reflects a generational shift within the party's parliamentary representation.