Jerusalem – In light of the horrific behavior that had transpired recently from certain extremist religious elements and subsequent inflammatory media coverage, Rabbi Ovadiah Yoseph, one of the leading sages of Israel and Torah luminaries in our generation, released the following statement:
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To our fellow Jewish brethren in every city, May Hashem be upon you to live,
Regarding that which recently transpired in our land, where, to the consternation of the heart various elements have attempted to sully the reputation of the Torah of Israel with actions that may never be done, causing a public desecration of the Name of Heaven, with no heed paid to the consequences of their actions, they have had the audacity to knock down and embarrass people in public, to abuse, vilify and curse them, and the spirit of the sages are discomfited from them, therefore I have said,
“This is not the time to be silent. I cannot abide to be silent of words.”
Therefore, I hereby reveal my opinion, and to promulgate them in the public forum that this is not the way of the Holy Torah, for “her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace.”
Our Rabbis have already warned of the severity of matters that lie between man and his fellow man, to the point where they have said that even Yom Kippur does not atone for sins between man and his fellow man. Our sages have already taught that it is preferable for a person to fling himself into a cauldron of fire rather than embarrass his friend publically.
Go out and see what the Rambam has written (Hilchos Deos 6:3): It is incumbent upon each person to love each and every member of Klal Yisroel like his own flesh, as the verse states, “And you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
He should honor his fellow the way he desires to be honored, and the wise person should hear and take a lesson.
Our sages have warned (Yevamos 62b), that it is incumbent upon every person to love his wife like himself and to accord her greater honor than himself. He should speak to her gently and with a pleasant countenance (Rambam Hilchos Ishus 15:19). Similarly, it is upon a woman to honor her husband properly, he should be in her eyes like an honorable nobleman (Rambam Ishus 15:20). They should live together with love, brotherhood, peace, and friendship. Through this the Divine Presence will rest among them. Blessing and joy will be in their home. They will merit to raise their sons and daughters to Torah, to the wedding canopy, to Mitzvos and to good deeds.
And in this I come to warn and caution, to all who are called by the name of Israel, not to attempt to test or take advantage of this difficult period, to stir and convince and to multiply disputes within our nation, to sow dissent and to split up brothers, for who who knows where it will lead? Behold, it was in the sin of baseless hatred that the Holy Temple was destroyed, and only with unbound love will it be rebuilt.
My brethren, I ask of you, do not do evil, to disparage and knock down the honor of Torah and Judaism, for it is our life and the length of our days. It is the secret of our existence throughout all the years of our exile. It is upon us to honor each other, and to bring ever closer the hearts of mankind to our Father in heaven, and we must love truth and peace.
May it be [His] will that peace and brotherhood return to dwell within our borders, ith abundant good, and the destructive Satan within and the verse shall be fulfilled within us, “Hashem will give strength to His nation, Hashem shall bless His nation with peace.”
Statements like this keep me sane.
its about time one of the Gedolim spoke up about this!!
Slamming the media just as well.
Why did the Rav add the fourth paragraph about how a husband and wife must love and respect each other. What does that have to do with anything?
Wow! I am so happy that one of the Gedolim issued a statement – hopefully others will follow soon!
At least he has the wisdom to see which way the wind is blowing..
Hopefully we’ll become “zealots” in ahavas yisroel
thank Hashem for sephardim Rabbeim.
Belated, but welcome. He may take a swipe at the media, but the media attention is the only reason we’re seeing this!
A true chacham and tzadik. A voice of reason. Boruch Hashem that he has spoken out.
This is a very one sided article. If you read the letter, the same is forbidden yo mock the so called extremists
Bravo to This Rabbi because he also speaks up when the secular eat chazir and they are Mechalel Shabbos and they have gay parades IN Jerusalem and they force frum soldiers to hear women singing. So who really is making the Chillul Hashem I ask?????
It seems to me that everyone is starting up with these Charaidim only because they are an easy target ( not that I agree with anything they are doing).
How about all these hot shots start talking up where the real ongoing Chilul Hashem is taking place???
Looks like he only heard one side of the story
finally but sadly it seems the only godel to speak up
why are the others silent?
Anyone notice that the next to last paragraph is not translated?
Chacham Ovadia could start with telling Beit Shemesh Mayor Abutbol (Shas) to resign.
Good point!
It is difficult to convey the beauty of this paragraph in English because its greatness lies in how it quotes from pessukim and tefillos, linking seemingly unconnected phrases to form a wonderful piece of prose.In English, it comes out as rather disjointed.
Here is my attempt at its translation (I hope that the Rav will forgive me for its shortcomings):
“I am looking for my brothers. Please my brothers do not do wrong, to insult and denigrate the glory of the Torah and Judaism, for it is our life and the length of our days, and it is the secret of our survival through all the years of our exile. It is incumbent upon us to respect one another, and to bring the hearts of people closer to our Father in Heaven. Truth and peace shall you love.”
How come our leader and our mentor
Hagaon hakadosh Reb chaim kanievsky shlita
Did not come out against this
What would the chazon ish do
What would the satmar rav do
What would the brisker rav do
What would the chasam sofer do etc….
They would have yelled at us for believing the media
That wishes to see all yidiskeit gone
And the proof is there are pictures of a hurt chareidish boy
Who was punched and spit at , by the seculars
But why was this not published with the same flamboyance
Finally we hear from a Gadol. I hope to hear from more Gedolim
Thank you Kvod Harav Ovadya Yosef.
in todays Jewish week ,
the belzer rebbie said or is quoted
if there are those among us who believe they will spread the light of Judaism through violence they are mistaken”
page 28
This topic is so boring already!
Every Jew should follow in the ways of Rav Hagoan Ovadiah Yosef. He is surely the Gadol Hador and the manhig hador. I know that any statement he makes will have a Hashpaa Tovah on Klal Yisrael and the world.
Unlike the title of this article, Rav Ovadia Yosef did not write: Religious Extremists Desecrating The Name Of ‘Hashem’.
No where in his letter is there a mention of charedim kitzonim.
Rav Yoseph condemns criminal ACTIONS, but does not condemn a specific PERSON or GROUP. Big difference. Because condemning religious extremists implies that charedim have a portion in the guilt, as does religioun. That is slander.
Where are the Toldos Rabomim? Why don’t they make any condemning public statement. ?
This letter although nice words of musar did not in any way specify what is going on. Why do the gedolim hesitate in coming out straight forward and give their opinion as to the “specific” events?