Latest news with #YitzhakYosef
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Netanyahu an ‘atheist,' former chief rabbi says, accusing IDF of targeting Sephardim
After a week of of demonstrations outside a military prison housing haredi detainees, former Sephardic chief rabbi slammed Netanyahu and Shas leader Arye Deri of stalling the haredi draft bill. Former Sephardi chief rabbi Yitzhak Yosef on Saturday night called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 'an atheist,' accused him and Shas leader Arye Deri of stalling a haredi draft bill, and alleged that the IDF is targeting Sephardim for arrests. Speaking after a week of demonstrations outside a military prison that houses haredi detainees, Yosef said that the coalition should have passed the draft law before approving its first budget, in line with the coalition agreement. 'It should have been before forming the government, as written in the coalition agreement, to pass the draft law before the first budget,' he said. Yosef sharply criticized haredi lawmakers and Netanyahu, invoking the late Rabbi Shalom Cohen, who served as president of Shas's Council of Torah Sages. 'Do not listen to Bibi after the budget. Why did they listen to him? If Hacham Shalom were alive, he would shout at the emissaries of the rabbis. Why are you dragging your feet? Why are you listening to Bibi? Do you believe him? He is an atheist,' Yosef said. The Rishon LeZion (the honorific for the Sephardi chief rabbi) continued, 'You rely on someone like that? What are you relying on him for, to pass the draft law? So more delays, and we got into trouble.' He also took aim at the military's recent round of arrests. 'They arrest mainly Sephardim. They know that there the father is weak, the mother is weak,' he said, adding, 'What is this, Russia? When they knock on the door, look through the peephole to see who it is. If it is them, do not open the door. Get through this difficult period.' Previous Controversies Yosef has a long record of provocative statements that often incite public debate. In January 2020, he drew widespread condemnation for referring to some immigrants from the former Soviet Union as 'communist, religion-hating' gentiles; then-Prime Minister Netanyahu branded those remarks 'outrageous' and praised the immigrants as 'a huge blessing to the State of Israel and the Jewish people' . In mid‑2021, Yosef dismissed secular academic subjects, labeling science and mathematics 'nonsense,' and urged that students focus solely on Torah study . Solve the daily Crossword
MTV Lebanon
08-06-2025
- Politics
- MTV Lebanon
Watch: Arson at a synagogue in Jerusalem
The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported a fire that broke out at the synagogue of Israel's former Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef in Jerusalem, with authorities suspecting it was arson. Israeli Interior Minister Moshe Arbel commented, saying, "The attempted burning of Rabbi Yosef's synagogue is a frightening incident and an assault on a national symbol." Meanwhile, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir noted, "The scenes of the synagogue being set on fire and the swastika drawn are shocking. This event is concerning, carries anti-Semitic characteristics, and must not be tolerated."
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Police probe suspected arson at Jerusalem synagogue, religious graffiti found nearby
It is believed to be the synagogue of Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, former Sephardi chief rabbi. Police, fire, and rescue teams were called to the Or Habib synagogue in Jerusalem's Sanhedria neighbourhood on Sunday morning, after a fire broke out at the site, the Israel Police said on Sunday. Israeli media is describing the incident as an act of suspected arson. Footage published on social media shows an individual setting the synagogue alight before running out of the building. According to Israeli media, this is the synagogue of Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, former Sephardi chief rabbi from 2013 to 2024. Prior to reports of the fire, the police received calls about a cross that had been graffitied onto the door of a house near the scene. Police and the Jerusalem District Forensic Unit are investigating the report. The fire has been contained, and no casualties were reported. Yosef encouraged yeshiva students to take their IDF draft notices and "tear them up, throw them in the toilet, and flush them away," in comments made in December 2024. "I am appalled by the horrific images of the fire and the spray-painted swastikas at the synagogue of Rishon LeZion, the spiritual leader of the Shas movement, Maran Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef," National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said in a statement on Sunday. "This is a disturbing event with serious antisemitic characteristics. Especially in the Jewish state, there must be zero tolerance for antisemitism," Ben Gvir added. While the police reported graffiti crosses near the fire, there have been no reports of swastikas spray-painted close to the synagogue. Religious Affairs Minister Michael Malchieli called the incident "a heinous act" and demanded "that the Israel Police act with a strong hand and with the severity of the law against the criminals," Walla reported. Interior Minister Moshe Arbel also condemned the reports of the arson, saying "This is a worrying escalation, and an attack on a national symbol," Maariv reported. "This morning I addressed the head of the Shin Bet and demanded their cooperation in investigating the heinous hate crime of arson," he added.
