Chief Rabbi HaRav Yosef Yitzchak, the Nasi of the Beit Din HaGadol, paskened that several Israelis abducted to Gaza can be declared dead.
HaRav Yitzchak issued the psak after a meeting in his office with senior IDF and security officials, forensic and health officials, Chief Rabbi of the IDF Eyal Karim and other Rabbanim, and the director of the Religious Services Ministry Yehudah Avidan.
The security officials presented their findings and data about the hostages in question to HaRav Yitzchak. The data includes, among other things, footage from surveillance cameras of the October 7th attack and testimony from released hostages.
The p’sak allows the families to sit shiva even without a levaya [as the bodies of the niftarim are being held by Hamas in Gaza] and is mattir the wives of the men who were declared dead to remarry.
Religious Services Minister Michael Malchiali said: “Lengthy and in-depth discussions with the heads of the security system, the members of the Forensic Medicine Institute, the Health Ministry, and the Ministry’s Director-General Yehudah Avidan enabled HaRav Yitzchak Yosef to reach his p’sak, which was carried out with special sensitivity in light of the circumstances and numerous ramifications. All of the employees of the office who acted and are still acting on this painful issue support the dear families at this difficult time and offer condolences for the deaths of their loved ones at the hands of the abominable Hamas murderers.”
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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6 Responses
B”H for Rebbe Akiva who made psaks like these possible.
Can someone explain what is the rush? Seems a bit early to come to a definite conclusion.
Heimish613
A real sick comment. Can you try putting yourself in their shoes for a moment and understand what they’re going through and then tell me “let em wait a little longer. They haven’t waited long enough yet”. My goodness
heimish.613,
Who said there is any rush?
If there is enough evidence and the Beis Din is sure that the person was niftar and the wife is no longer a aguna, then there is no reason to delay. It probably brings closure to the families also.
Heimish: If someone close to you was to confront similar circumstances, we will be sure to remind the beis din “not to rush”.
HaRav Yitzchak Yosef is the indisputable גדול-הדור and if he felt the timing was right to handle these most complex שאלות we must all be in awe & admiration of this incredible genius רב