This begins with the weekly motzei Shabbos shiur of Rishon L’Tzion Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef Shlita, who spoke about the halachos pertaining to non-Jews living in Israel and their obligation to adhere to the ‘Sheva Mitzvos Bnei Noach’ as they must outside of Israel.

The rav explained the halachic concept and how non-Jews unwilling to live in Israel in accordance to halacha are prohibited from doing so when Torah Law prevails in Eretz Yisrael, which is not the case today.

Needless to say the secular media was quick to report on the rav’s bigoted attitude as the secular media regularly monitors the rav’s weekly shiurim, hungry for a tasty sound bite as they did with his father, Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef ZT”L .

Arab Bloc MK Ahmed Tibi decided to join the chorus and criticize Rav Yosef, explaining that if Rabbi Yosef has his way, non-Jews would be ousted from Israel. Tibi made his comments from the Knesset podium. Tibi continued, reminding his fellow lawmakers of the recent remarks by Rav Yosef that it is a mitzvah to kill an armed terrorist.

Tibi feels the Rav’s remarks may in some way be responsible for the soldier firing at a wounded terrorist following a stabbing attack in Hebron on Purim. The Arab MK feels the civil service Chief Rabbi should be condemned for his remarks, which would be the case in any developed nation – questioning why this is not so in Israel.

“In any modern state in the world a senior religious leader like the Chief Rabbi who spoke about some citizens as he does would be sent flying in five minutes but here, no one even commented on it. The same about several weeks ago when he incited regarding what occurred later with the soldier murderer in Hebron…”

Tibi then shifted from Rav Yitzchak to Rav Ovadia, adding “And I ask and then I remember that Chief Rabbi Yosef is a son of Ovadia Yosef, who also spoke in a similar fashion. I am a physician and I have not heard of this genetic disease. Does this pass by heredity and if so, what is this family’s DNA – I don’t know.

In the letter of clarification released by Rav Yosef’s Office, it explains the sugya, that the Rishon L’Tzion was discussing the sale of chametz to a non-Jew on Pesach which led to the topic of ‘Ger Toshav’ and the halachos of the Rambam vis-à-vis the latter.

As explained above, the media, usually involving persons who are unlearned and lack a basic understanding of the concepts discussed in the shiurim, are quick to write scathing damaging which in more case than not, represent taking concepts of limud Torah out of context and presenting them in a non-theoretical light as opposed to limud, theoretical, as was the case here.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)