If there was any doubt as to Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef’s Shlita opinion of Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid, it is now clear to all. The secular media jumped on the story as the Gadol Hador during his motzei Shabbos shiur referred to Lapid as “contemptible”. His exact words were ( לא תלך עם לפיד. זה מנוול זה, שונא את הישיבות) “Don’t go with Lapid. He is contemptible and hates the yeshivos”.
Nissim Ze’ev told Channel 2 TV that “Maran expressed sorrow and anger over the blow to the Torah world and I suggest that we check the records to see the statements made by Lapid vis-à-vis yeshivos.”
“With all due respect, you will not teach Maran about what can and cannot be said.
“When the word ‘contemptible’ is used, Maran refers to the actions of the individual and I do not see it as being as offensive as you make it out to be. Let us focus on the reality that Lapid wants to compel bnei Torah into the military and he also said ‘I don’t want to see the chareidim around the government table’.”
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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11 Responses
There is an expression, what you think you do not have to say, what you say does not have to be written…. etc.
and there is a hiddush there?
Stating the obvious is not newsworthy!
Zionflag
Take your own advice. While you may not agree with everything he says, Rav Ovadia is one of the greatest men of our generation. If you lived 2 lifetimes you wouldn’t know a quarter of the Torah he knows. He is an ish kadosh and you should have at least a little respect for him.
At one time, there was an expectation that those who disagree on political and policy issues could do so in a civil way without engaging in this type of personal attacks and inappropriate language. The rav’s comments do little to promote the achdus we need among all segments of Israeli society.
Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef’s Shlita can say what he likes, given who he is. The rest of us, lacking his level of holiness and learning, should mind our manners.
And in addition to minding our manners, we should cite the factual bases for our conclusions.
What is going on? Has everyone lost focus on what matters? How is Lapid relevant to a “gaon’s” dvar Torah? If “Maran” is so embodied in Torah, why is it that his Torah words are all about bad mouthing people, fellow Jews, regardless of their political stands. That’s why politics and religion don’t mix, not at his so called level. Next we know is that has veshalom Israel enters a new war and all these Shas members will be blaming the hilonim for it when they should all be blaming their lashon harah. If “Rav Ovadia” is such a great man, which I totally respect, it’s time for him to start talking Torah, which is what apparently he knows best but has failed to do so these past weeks.
OK. The D”L are not goyim and Yair Lapid does not hate yeshivot, and Maran knows this very well. So the question is – what is he aiming to accomplish? Commentators in Israel have raised all sorts of theories, none of which are attractive. Maran is, besides everything else, a grand-master at Israeli political chess. When you see a grand-master opening with a series of inexplicable moves, you know that you are in for a treat of a game. I look forwards to his next moves with real interest.
#8 i’m with you..
Reply to No. 5
Along with leadership goes the responsibility to promote achdus and avoid the type of sinas chinam that gadolim of prior generations have taught us was the reason for churban bayis, the shoah, and other tragedies that have befallen am yisorel. Even the rav’s followers have been reduced to the level of rationalizing his comments by saying “well he is the Rav so he can say whatever he wants”. Well, in a democracy, of course he can say whatever he wants, but it substantially devalues the respect and esteem in which he is held by the klal, especially outside the Sephardeshe community.
YWN, using censorship: We must protect the public, they may not be able to handle hearing all the points of view of the public. We must make them all agree and think the same. Great job !!!