Rabbi David Stav, a leading candidate to become the next Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel, granted an interview to Yisrael Hayom, which will appear on Friday, erev Shabbos Balak 5773. The rav comments on last motzei Shabbos’ attack against him by Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef Shlita, in which the Gadol Hador referred to Rabbi Stav as “dangerous to the rabbanut and to the Jewish People”.
In his comments to Yisrael Hayom, Rav Stav explains that in his view, Rav Ovadia’s remarks were a Chilul Hashem.
“I feel that here is a situation which may increase the hate for Toras Yisrael, for chachamim and for rabbonim. I am convinced that Rav Ovadia reached those conclusions as a result of those who engage in loshon hora and rechilus. I was pained for myself as well as for Am Yisrael. I have the utmost respect for Rav Ovadia”.
The rav explains he heard about Rav Ovadia’s scathing criticism from his colleagues, and in fact, he never met with the Gadol Hador and never had the opportunity to explain his position to the rav. Rav Stav adds that in recent weeks and months he has sent a number of messages requesting to meet with Rav Ovadia but he has not been permitted to meet. “I asked that he review my sefer as well. Perhaps I would have made corrections. However, this too they did not agree too.”
Rav Stav nevertheless remains optimistic and despite the harsh words, he remains confident that he will be able to work with Rav Ovadia’s people, referring to Badatz Beit Yosef. “I will work with anyone willing to work with me. Those unwilling to do so, they won’t have kashrus. There are laws and they must be respected.”
When asked to comment on all the deal-making that surrounds the election, Rabbi Stav explains that he feels most do not realize the enormous damage caused by these actions and how more people are turned off and are no longer willing to believe in or trust the Chief Rabbinate.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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14 Responses
The question that i have for Rav Stav is as follows: True, that you havent met with Rav Ovadia since you began your campaign, but why haven’t you met with him before hand? Or, Rav Elyashiv, or Rav Shlomo Zalman? Which of Gedolai Hora’ah of our generation have you had a shaiyochus with? Your own Rebbe, Rav Druckman doesn’t want you, why should anyone else?
Still can’t get over “The Rav’s facebook page” .. too funny.
and the question that I have to him is: You claim that Rav Ovadia should not make such statements without meeting you. He feels that reviewing your writings was enough. Well how do you justify saying that Rav Ovadia is wrong, and a Chilul Hashem withour meeting him?
– and don’t you think that if you shown more respect, and if you expressed that maybe you share some of the blame (without mentioning reasons…), don’t you think that would minimize the Chilul Hashem?
Isn’t your cations right now a new low? the proper response to someone like Rav Ovadia is at least to say that you don’t know why he’s saying it, and leave all the defending to others older than you from your camp, like Rav Drukman… but to go head on yourself and negate RAV Ovadia is in itself very indicative…
Rav Stav would make a beautiful Kiddush Hashem if he would say that he bows to the opinion of the Gedolim. What an effect that would have on Klal Yisroel, and even on the erev rav that is currently in power in the Knesset! What an opportunity!
Admittedly that would take great strength that few people have, but I can dream…
#1- Most D”L rabbis of harav Stav’s generation have had little contact with charedi gdolim. The D”L/Charda”l yeshiva world is very large and self contained and the open disdain of the charedi world leaves D”L rabbis with little motivation to chase after their charedi counterparts. Nevertheless, harav Stav sent his book to harav Ovadia for review – and never heard back. And he has maintained a relationship with many of his charedi family members and with charedi rabbis who are not disdainful of the D”L community. And even with them, their entourages can make the experience unpleasant, as we witnessed recently at the simchas of harav Pinto and harav Rabinovich.
As for harav Druckman, he certainly preferred harav Ariel and was unhappy that harav Stav did not step down for him. But he has backed harav Stav and defended his honor against the attack of harav Ovadia and may well support his candidacy for chief rabbi – unless harav Shapira, R”Y of Mercaz HaRav, announces his candidacy, which harav Druckman would prefer.
“Rav Stav would make a beautiful Kiddush Hashem if he would say that he bows to the opinion of the Gedolim. What an effect that would have on Klal Yisroel, and even on the erev rav that is currently in power in the Knesset! What an opportunity!”
In fact, Rav Stav did just that. As reported right here on YeshivaWorldNews, Rav Stav offered to defer to Rav Ariel, one of the gedolim of the Dati Leumi world, in the race for Chief Rabbi:
http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/article.php?p=165111
And also as reported right here on YeshivaWorldNews, two other gedolim of the Dati Leumi world are supporting Rav Stav in his efforts to become chief rabbi:
http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/article.php?p=149194
He has the endorsement of Rav Aharon Lichtenstein. there is nothing more that needs be said except to note the age limit for the sanhedrin. the reason is all too obvious.
Charliehall, the comment requested that Rav Stav bow to the gedolim. Gedolim, by definition, means charedi gedolim.
BTW, just as a slight nit-pick, why is R’ OY referred to as “maran?” Unless you’re a sephardi who follows him, maran is usually reserved for those whom we follow, as a mara d’asra.
#8,
Gedolim means Gedolim. Big. Giants of Torah.
Not anyone who is a Rabbi of old age is a Gadol.
To compare Rav Drukman to Rav Ovadia is unbelievable. Of course Rav Drukman deserves his place and honor, but let’s not allow our quest for peace and harmony drive down levels of greatness and achievement.
#8- Really? Gedolim by definition means chareidi?? R’ Yoshe Ber was not a gadol?
#8- Actually, ‘maran’ is an acronym for מאתיים רבנים נסמך, which was first applied to Rabbi Yoseph Karo.
It has since been applied as a sign of respect to leading talmidei chachamim. Whether or not you always agree with harav Ovadia and adhere to his rulings, he is certainly one of the great poskim of the generation and worthy of such respect.
MDshweks, R’ OY says you can eat kitniyos on Pesach, yet your rav says you can’t. Who will you listen to? Your local chassidish rebbe says that you should say keser by Musaf yet R’ Moshe says you should say naaritzcha, who should Yoily Kokosh hold by? I don’t see charedi people going to get haskamos from the DL or Sephardi rabbanim. I’m not sure why you think a DL Rav visiting DL leaders for approval is considered going against ROY.
Yanky55, I am of course joking, but there is that view out there, that only a charedi rav is a gadol.
I don’t get it, R’oy is supposed to be the Gadol, the most brilliant mind of our generation – and every time he says something negative “party of goyim” “R Stav is a rusha” etc. its blamed on someone giving him false information.
To an extent its more insulting to say that he is incapable of making a decision on his own and that he has to rely on the (loshon Horah) from the people around him.
chachamhagadol Just for your info Rav Stav did not earn in Rav Drukman’s Yeshiva Or Etzion, he actually was a Ram there. I would not say that Dar Drukman Shlita is his Rebbe.
Dr. Yidd you are obviously a Gushnik and a talmid of Rav Aharon, yet he is by no means the voice of the Dati leumi in israel. most do not even know who he really is. He is well known in the American oleh community.But not really held of in the rest of the Israeli community.
Dat torh since 1841: it is evident that you do not know what actually Goes on around mANY OF OUR gEDOLIM,they have askonim that tell them what is going on in the world many of them do not listen to the news or read newspapers.