HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Yosef spoke on Thursday at the residence of President Isaac Herzog at an event marking the 65th yahrzeit of the president’s grandfather, HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Isaac Halevi Herzog, z’tl, and the reprinting of his sefer Ohel Yitzchak.
HaRav Yosef addressed the topic of the ongoing negotiations for a ceasefire-hostage deal: “They should quickly reach a hostage deal. There’s nothing to do – it hurts to release terrorists with blood on their hands. They released Yahya Sinwar and we saw what came of it.”
“But it’s pikuach nefesh. If these hostages aren’t released, they’ll kill them. There’s a possibility of future pikuach nefesh that these [released terrorists] will afterward kill Jews – but it’s not now. The hostages – it’s a matter of pikuach nefesh now.”
“There are discussions in halachah on this topic and my conclusion is what I said. This was also the opinion of my teacher, my father, z’tl, [HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef, z’tl] who paskened that it’s muttar to release these cursed terrorists.”
“We need to daven for them [the hostages] that all of them will return to their homes, a refuas hanefesh and refuas haguf, and we should hear good news and nechamos.”
HaRav Yosef added: “It’s true that we always speak about the Torah that protects us. However, it’s forbidden to forget that the IDF soldiers are our shlichim, they’re moser nefesh. We learn and daven for them, they protect us. They are shlichim of Hakadosh Baruch Hu.”
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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7 Responses
Would the Gaon say the same thing if he were elected Prime Minister? It’s easy to…
It’s not my place to argue the halacha but why are the hostages a more immediate pikuach nefesh. Terrorists released since Oct7 have already done terror attacks.
The Rav, who is not know for political correctness, clearly expresses the views of the large percentage of Israelis and Yidden throughout the world regardless of their hashkafah. Its time to resolve whatever remaining issues are blocking a cease fire and return of the hostages. I am also inspired by his words regarding the brave men and women of the IDF and their mesiras nefesh on behalf of protecting EY.
HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef, z’tl argued that a vadai (certainty) takes precedence over a safek (doubt).
The hostages are in a pikuach nefesh situation, that’s a vadai/certainty (some have already been murdered). The terrorists which will be released for the exchange of the hostages, might/might not try to kill again in the future. It’s in the realm of safek. Therefore the hostages take precedence.
Rav Dov Lior, shlita, during talks of previous terrorist release: “There is here a pikach nefesh of the entire community” It appears in my humble opinion according to the words of the mishna (Gittin 45) We do not redeem the captives for more than their value and according to the words of the Ramban, we don’t redeem them even if there is a danger to lives of the captives in order not to encourage the kidnappers to continue in their evil ways.
If the state surrenders to them, this will definitely encourage them to continue in their lowly ways. Therefore, it is forbidden for the state to submit to terror and to agree to their demands. This is not like the normal cases of pikuach nefesh (threat to life) of individuals, but this is pikuach nefesh (a threat to life) of the entire community.
@Rif,
That is a basic point in halacha we find all over (further concreting your point not the opposite).
I agree… Get all the hostages back into Israel. Release all the security prisoners back into Gaza. Then flatten Gaza with all of them in it.