An arsonist broke into the shul of the former Rishon L’Tzion, HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Yosef, on Rechov Yam Suf in the Sanhedria Murchevet neighborhood of Jerusalem and set it on fire in the pre-dawn hours of Sunday morning.
Security camera footage shows the arsonist entering the Ohr Chaviv shul around 3 a.m., approaching the Aron Kodesh and setting it on fire.
A nearby residential apartment building was found vandalized with graffiti, including crosses and other Christian symbols, and it is suspected that the arsonist carried out the vandalism before setting fire to the shul.
The fire caused extensive damage to the shul, HaRav Yosef’s office and his magnificent chair, as well as his sefarim and those of his illustrious father, HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef, z’tl.
Firefighters who were called to the scene brought the fire under control. Police investigators gathered evidence from the scene and launched an investigation into the incident. The Shin Bet is also involved in the investigation.
“After examining all the findings at the scene of the incident, it was unequivocally determined that it was arson,” the fire department said.
Moshe Mishali, Yona Diamond, and Shlomo Rtchmond, Mishmar volunteers, said, “When we arrived at the shul and noticed the fire, we immediately acted to assist the fire and rescue forces. Afterward, we were shocked by the sights we discovered in the shul and the nearby building – graffiti and crosses.”
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu responded by stating, “We must not allow scenes that are reminiscent of tragic periods in our history. I call on law enforcement authorities to find the perpetrators as soon as possible and bring them to justice.”
Opposition Leader Yair Lapid also condemns the incident, stating that he “expects the police to quickly find the culprits and bring them to the strictest justice,” while Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman declares that “a handful of criminals must not be allowed to undermine the unity of Israeli society.”
Opposition leader Yair Lapid responded to the report by stating that he “strongly condemns the desecration of the Ohr Chaviv shul where Rav Yitzchak Yosef davens and expects the police to quickly find the perpetrators and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.”
Minister of Religious Affairs Michael Malchieli harshly condemned the incident, stating: “Shocking scenes with antisemitic overtones at the shul where Maran HaRav Yitzchak Yosef davens. All religious leaders must denounce and reject such vile acts. Simultaneously, I demand that the Israel Police act decisively and bring the perpetrators to justice.”
President Isaac Herzog responded: “Setting fire to sifrei kodesh, spraying crosses and an attempt to burn Sifrei Torah in the shul of the Rishon L’Tzion HaRav Yitzchak Yosef in Jerusalem are appalling. I call for swift and decisive action to investigate this serious hate crime and bring the perpetrators to justice.”
The chairman of the UTJ party said: “The arson of the shul of Maran Rishon L’Tzion HaRav Yitzchak Yosef is an act that cannot be ignored. The sights sear every Jewish heart.”
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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10 Responses
Rav Yitzhak Yosef, shlita is a holy man. I can’t imagine why anyone would want to do this!
Were the sefarim burned the kesav yad of Rav Ovadia ZTL or print? I know both horrifying, but much worse if the world will never see the chidushim written if it’s from unpublished kesavim. (He apparently left over 100 unpublished notebooks. Crazy to imagine he wrote more than what was published in his lifetime)
Clearly the filthy disgusting savage must מידה כנגד מידה be set on fire without any anesthesia but with some water, to suffer a slow death, in front of this Holy Shul, in full public view, and thereby be a massive deterrent to any other future hooligan.
There is much to disagree with with respect to the statements of the leader of this Shul, but violence – to include violence toward property – is absolutely not the way. I have no hesitation whatsoever in condemning this act of violence and the one who carried it out – this is not the way of Torah, even if you have a legitimate complaint against someone. I hope the perpetrator of this vile act is caught quickly and punished to the full extent of the law.
an Israeli Yid
“Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu responded by stating, “We must not allow scenes that are reminiscent of tragic periods in our history.”
The propagandizing heretic is spouting propaganda as usual. Zionist history goes back only a little over a century. Of course (with the possible exception of its predecessor violation of the oaths, harugei beisar), since the founding of Zionism, Jewish blood been spilled like water like never before in Jewish history.
The wicked Zionists, in their pseudo-“State”, are the ones who encourage and sustain these other idolatrous faiths.
Why don’t we understand the motive of this person. This is a lefty that doesn’t like the statement of Rav Yosef in regards to the draft of the Yeshiva Bochirim. He might be a soldier currently serving in the IDF.
@Hakatan:
I 99% of the time fully agree with your anti zionism, but here I must be moche lichvod haTorah.
The Harugei Besar were NOT comparable to the zionists at ALL.
Chazal considered them in EXTREMELY high regard. We say a 4th bracha in birchas hamazon (associated to the Cos shel Bracha, and Tchias Hamesim), because of them!!
R Akiva held Bar Kochba was Moshiach, which he was. He unfortunately lost the war, but not until rebuilding the bes haMikdash and having a Malchus Yisrael (al pi Torah) for 2.5 years!! He actually was Moshiach in his time. But his yemos hamashiach only lasted 2.5 years.
They were the ‘Greatest Generation’ in jewish history.
No shaychus to zionists.
And one of the reasons why we fast on Tisha b’av is because of the haruge besar.
The shalosh shvuos was made after they were brutally murdered and Jewish blood flowed like water, like the deer and gazelles in the field. Chazal didn’t want it to happen again. That’s why zionism is so bad. They are spilling Jewish blood like chazal warned after bar kochba lost.
@Thunderstorm – the motivations of this person are hardly relevant. What was done was wrong, full stop, and should be punished to the full extent of the law. I happen to have very strong views regarding the statements, political positions, and actions of the leader of this Beit Knesset – but still believe that what was done was as wrong as wrong can be, and I will condemn it full-throatedly without hesitation.
an Israeli Yid
@Thunder; no, no Jew would paint a cross…