Rosh Yeshivat Porat Yosef Rabbi Shalom Cohen Shlita, a member of Shas’ Moetzas Gedolei Torah rejects any and all discussion of a replacement for Maran HaGaon HaRav Chaim Ovadia Yosef Shlita. Rav Cohen stated the tzibur must concern itself with being mispallel for Rav Chaim Ovadia’s recovery and not a replacement. He added “we have a leader and he will take us to Moshiach”, adding that “without Rav Chaim Ovadia we are a flock without a shepherd”. The rosh yeshiva made his remarks during a Simchas Torah event in Yeshivat Ohr Chaim in Yerushalayim.
The rav may have been responding to a Maariv report that former Rishon L’Tzion Rabbi Moshe Shlomo Amar’s aides have hired public relations experts to return Rav Amar to the spotlight ahead of the selection for a successor for Rav Ovadia. Responding to the report, Rav Amar stated he is not concerned with replacing the gadol hador but being mispallel for his total recovery.
Rav Cohen called those acting to replace the rav a disgrace, questioning how anyone can speak in terms of a replacement for Rav Chaim Ovadia. Rav Cohen stated there is no such person.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Posted Isru Chas Simchas Torah, Eretz Yisrael)
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9 Responses
I’m really glad that they published this statement! I was really appalled when I saw articles about Rav Amar taking the mantel of Sefardic Jewry. Not to state anything bad about Rav Amar. I’m sure he’s an incredible Talmid Chachom. Non-the-less, discussing a replacement while a Gadol is still alive is absolutely disgusting!
I remember my first thoughts upon hear the horrific news of Reb Moshe’s (tzl) passing. I remember thinking, “who will lead Klal Yisroel?! We are like sheep without a Shephard!” However, before he passed away it never entered my head at all!
I guess this is a sign of the yeridos hadoros. 🙁
There have been many occasions when Rebbes and Rosh Yeshivas as they age give over their mantle of power to a successor. In most cases this allows a smooth and peaceful legacy…..in this way after 120yrs, it will erupt in anger, fights and vindictive behaviors.
1. Softwords: “I guess this is a sign of the yeridos hadoros.”
I disagree. If anything, it is often disgraceful that a gadol continues to be kept in the spotlight well after he is capable of leading. Even before Hashem tells him to, Moshe rabbeinu appoints Yehoshua as a successor. And that was Moshe, a person about whom the Torah states did not become in any way weak before death. We all know that most human beings — and our gedolim are no exception — become weak at the end of their lives, and are not the best people to lead.
The halacha clearly states that a talmid chacham that is too old cannot be appointed to the sanhedrin, and so too cannot remain on the sanhedrin if he is too old. It is not a source of pride to have gedolim who are well into old age remaining in leadership positions. There is no mitzvah to wait until they die before finding younger and more able leaders to lead.
I agree that now is the right time to determine the succession of leadership. And neither is right after the death of a gadol a good time to do so. The best time to work towards determining the succession of leadership is when the current leadership is alive and well, and able to contribute from his vast wisdom towards guiding this important decision.
I made a typo in last post: “I agree that now is _not_ the right time…”.
I am a Sefardi and I can’t wait to see the Sium HaShas that will likely take place soon. They have been an embarrassment to my culture and just like their Askenasi (Haredi) counterparts their ways are a new invented ways of which they adopted from those “Askenasim” they always speak about. Good riddance to this party may we all have real Jewish leaders leading all of united Am Yisrael no matter one’s background or where one’s parents or grandparents lived in the galut. Stop this racism, fanaticism and galuti ways.
Didn’t Moshe Rabeinu appoint Yehoshua as a successor while he was still alive? Isn’t that what Chazal is teaching us when they say that one sun rises before the other one sets? Isn’t it the responsibility of a leader to make sure his people aren’t stuck without a leader after he passes his on?
There is nothing contradictory about davening for a refuah shelamah for Rav Yosef and simultaneously planning for an orderly transition to his ultimate successor. That type of planning is exactly what Rav Yoef would want his followers to be doing if he were able to clearly communicate. Obviously, it would all be contingent upon what happens over the coming days and weeks.
I’m quite surprised at the commentators here! A very big Talmid Chochim clearly states that looking for a replacement at this time is inappropriate and you guys who most likely have never finished Shas (or at least have a very weak knowledge of Shas at best) think you know more that he?! Why do you believe that Rav Cohen has no musag of Moishe’s appointing Yehoshua as leader (BTW – you all have the story wrong… better look it up again.)?
Why aren’t you able to distinguish the difference between a Gadol (Rebbe or Rosh Yeshiva) choosing his successful while he is still healthy and others determining while he is incapacitated?
Can you imagine a Rosh Yeshiva waking up from a coma and finding out that they replaced him because they were expecting him to die?!!! What utter Chutzpa!!!
When Rav Shimon Schwab asked permission from the Alter of Slabodka to leave the Yeshiva to go see the Chofetz Chaim, the Alter told him to wait until Pesach. Rav Schwab retorted, “… but he’s old and what if I never get the chance?” (i.e. what if he dies before then). The Alter was shocked and just replied, “only an Americaner!”
Why aren’t you able to distinguish the difference between a Gadol (Rebbe or Rosh Yeshiva) choosing his successful while he is still healthy and others determining while he is incapacitated? –
WHO SAID ANYTHING ABOUT HEALTHY???