Shas

Shas

Hebrew in full  Sephardim Shomrei Torah , English  Sephardi Torah Guardians 

      ultra-Orthodox religious political party in Israel.

      Shas was founded in 1984 by dissident members of the Ashkenazi (Jews of European descent)-dominated Agudat Israel, another ultrareligious party, to represent the interests of religiously observant Sephardic (Middle Eastern) Jews. The sephardim (Sephardi), including many who were not religiously observant, were attracted to the party, particularly in the 1990s, because they saw it as a way to voice their grievances concerning discrimination in education, employment, and housing. In 1984 Shas won 4 seats in the 120-member Knesset, Israel's legislative body, and it marginally increased its representation in 1988 to six seats, a success attributed largely to its participation in a unity government until 1987. While in government it was given control of the Interior Ministry, which allowed it to funnel money to services for religious Sephardic Jews. Broadening its appeal to secular sephardim, Shas won 10 seats in 1996, and by the late 1990s it was the third largest party in the Knesset, challenging the status of the Israel Labour Party and Likud, traditionally the country's two largest parties, and acting as a power broker in coalition negotiations. It has entered coalition governments with both Labour and Likud.

      Shas policy is determined by a council of sages. Seeking to expand the funding of religious institutions, Shas has focused much of its policy attention on social services and education. It also has opposed efforts to further secularize Israel, particularly proposals to introduce civil marriage. Shas has equivocated on the peace accords signed between Israel and the Palestinians in the 1990s; with the exception of East Jerusalem, Shas has steadfastly opposed the building of Israeli settlements in areas conquered by Israel in 1967, and, though it supports autonomy for the Palestinians, Shas has opposed the establishment of a Palestinian state.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • SHAS — (Sephardi Torah Guardians), Israeli political party. Shas was established in 1984 before the elections to the Eleventh Knesset, in protest over the small representation of Sephardim in the ḥaredi agudat israel , and with the support of Rabbi… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Shas — Fundado en: 1984 Líder: Eli Yishai Ideología: Afiliación europea: Ámbito: Israel Estado: En activo Web …   Wikipedia Español

  • SHAS — (Heb. שׁ״ס), an abbreviation consisting of the initials of Shishah Sedarim (Heb. שִׁשָּׁה סְדָרִים), or Shita Sidra (Aram. שִׁיתָא סִידְרָא), the six orders into which the Mishnah is divided. The full Aramaic term is found in Bava Meẓia 85b, the… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Shas — Infobox Israeli Political Party party name = Shas colorcode = #013068 party leader = Eli Yishai foundation = 1984 by Ovadia Yosef and Elazar Shach MPheight = 17 (1999) MPcurrent = 12 (2006) ideology = Yalkut Yosef Sephardi Judaism Populism… …   Wikipedia

  • shas — bo·shas; bu·ru·shas·ki; dhar·ma·shas·tra; shas; shas·ta; shas·tra; shas·tan; shas·lik; shas·tra·ic; …   English syllables

  • SHAS —    See Sephardi Torah Guardians (SHAS) …   Historical Dictionary of Israel

  • shas — plural of sha * * * shas, shash obs. ff. sash n.1 and n.2 …   Useful english dictionary

  • Shas|ta daisy — «SHAS tuh», 1. a cultivated variety of daisy having large flowers with white rays. 2. its flower. ╂[American English < Mount Shasta, a mountain in California] …   Useful english dictionary

  • Shas|tan — «SHAS tuhn», adjective, noun. Geology. Comanchean …   Useful english dictionary

  • shas|tra — «SHAHS truh», noun. = sastra. (Cf. ↑sastra) …   Useful english dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”