While the Chief Rabbinate of Israel race is past, some rabbonim appear compelled to comment on Tzohar Rabbonim. Holon Chief Rabbi Avraham Yosef, a son of Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef Shlita released a statement that Tzohar “wanted to trample the Chief Rabbinate of Israel.”
The rav responded to a question posed on the Moreshet website, asking about the involvement of an influential person to obtain positions for others, as was the case in the Chief Rabbinate elections when Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef Shlita tried to secure the Rishon L’Tzion post for Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef, a son.
In his response Rabbi Avraham Yosef explains “this is not an appointment but rather a push in a certain direction to block the evil people in Israel. The selection and election is not because he is his son, but because he was the best of the candidates.”
Rav Avraham explains there is nothing wrong with selecting someone’s son, adding there is however something very wrong with a fraudulent campaign that leads to electing one who is not qualified.
“To my sorry, we witnessed an unprecedented phenomenon and in recent years, the Chief Rabbinate was trampled and mocked with significant assistance from one who was a candidate to stand at its helm.” Clearly the rav is referring to the candidacy of Rav David Stav, who heads Tzohar Rabbonim.
The rabbi concludes explaining “There is a difference between promoting self interest and advancing goals to benefit the tzibur as was the case.”
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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5 Responses
“The rabbi concludes explaining “There is a difference between promoting self interest and advancing goals to benefit the tzibur as was the case.”
That’s an interesting statement for him to make, given that he is being sued for firing a Rabbanut mashgiach for having campaigned against teh Yosef family’s political party.
It’s also an interesting statement to make, given Shas’s history of using their power within the Rabbanut to secure jobs for many, many sons and sons-in-law of Shas officials.
In fact, one would be hard pressed to name a single high-paying appointment made by Shas Rabbonim that did not go to someone well-connected and instead went to someone based on merit.
He should take the advice many parents give their kids: If you have nothing nice to say….
If the new Chief Rabbinate fails to unify the Jewish people this time around, this position, along with all Chief Rabbi positions in Israel, will be deemed irrelevant in the very near future. Last chance……..
So if I understand him correctly, nepotism and cronyism is OK, but c’v having a respected rav compete for a position for which he is fully qualified but that has been set aside for the “anointed one” makes that person “evil”.
This whole mentality sickens me. People aren’t necessarily evil just because their approach or perspective is different from yours. This type of political demonization is used to stifle discussion and debate on issues.
The reality is that the Cheif Rabbinit has to be revamped with better outreach and not always with a heavy hand. All this does is make enemies and creates a backlash. This has nothing to do with compromising Halacha (which should not be done) and everything to do with mentchlechkeit and drawing people back to Torah.
Many people just need to be educatd and understand the reason for things. Bashing them or attacking differing opinions in such an extreme and evil way only drives people away from Torah.