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.
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