Every month tens of chareidi soldiers take part in a “Torani Day” during which they visit appropriate sites and hear a lecture/shiur from rabbonim. According to a Kikar report, one such group, composed of dozens of Nachal Chareidi and Shachar soldiers on Wednesday, 10 Kislev 5774 took part in such a day. They were told that one of the day’s stops would be the tziyun of Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef ZT”L, but at the last moment their itinerary was changed. They were scheduled to arrive at the kever at 1:05 PM.
Soldiers are quoted explaining they believe in the eyes of IDF decision-makers, Maran was viewed as a political leader and the commander do not understand his position as a gadol hador. Many of the soldiers were extremely disappointed to hear Maran’s kever was off the day’s itinerary.
When the soldiers heard the visit to the kever was off the agenda, some of them announced they would not take part in the day’s activities in an act of protest.
IDF Rav Ezra Boro explained that the IDF does view Maran as being a political figure and he believes this is why the visit was canceled. He explains the military sees the rav was affiliated with the Shas party. It appears the rav announced that soldiers may visit the kever if they wish but those that did not wish to do so have the right to decline. Rabbi Boro explains he received the order to remove Rav Ovadia’s kever from the day’s calendar.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
The IDF has already clarified that it was a one-time cancellation and that there is no restriction on visiting harav Ovadia’s kever.
But why bother with boring facts when the speculation and innuendo is so much juicier and more gratifying.