In his motzei shabbos drasha, Maran Rav Ovadia Yosef stated “there are batei din and rabbonim. Why did they take the matter to the secular courts?” in his weekly satellite broadcast drasha, the rav questioned why the Emanuel Beis Yaakov matter was taken to the secular system.
The Rav added that “we mustn’t be beholden to the kindness of Chinuch Atzmai, which has educated our children over the years”. The Rav calls on all his followers to enroll their children in Sephardi schools, stating today there are over 40,000 students in mosdot that have been launched by Shas. “It doesn’t say morasha kehillot Ashkenazim” the Rav added”.
The Rav used strong terms to persuade all Sephardi families to enroll their children in Sephardi mosdos, and that this is the only way to ensure they will be taught Sephardi customs and halachot.
He questioned why a war is necessary and why one must address the High Court, calling on the tzibur to abandon the Ashkenazi schools. He once again quoted the Rambam regarding one who takes matters to a secular system “raises his hands against the Torah of Moshe Rabbeinu” and does not have a share in the Next World. The Rav used strong terms in expressing the graveness of the matter, bringing the chinuch issue to the nation’s secular court.
The Rav pointed out the girls must move to a Sephardi school. “What do they teach them there? Do they learn Ben Ish Chai? They are taught the halachot of Ashkenazim”.
The Rav concluded “Baruch Hashem our Torah is not lower than their Torah!”
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
6 Responses
Mr. Spira. Your bias on this matter is like the BBC reporting on Israel. The Rav decried the fact that it festered for so long that it made its way to the court. He did not, despite your implications, condemn those who brought it to the court.
I believe you miquoted what Rav Yosef said. He said we SHOULD be grateful to Chinuch Atzma’i for educating our children till now. Since when was the Torah split in two, one Ashkenaz and one Sefard? I always thought we had just one Torah. The word Sefard means Spain in Hebrew,the country that produced the horrible sufferings of the Inquisition. Ashkenaz means Germany, the country that caused the Holocaust and that was responsible for the murder of 6,000,000 of our brethren. Is it an honor that we call oursselves after two of the most anti-semitic countries in history? We will only resolve this problem when we, both Ashkenazim and Sefardim start looking at ourselves as Jews, PERIOD! As we say in Shabbos Mevorchim “Chaverim kol Yisroel” (from the Ashkenazic Siddur) or “Amo Yisrael b’chol makom sh’heym,” (from the Sefardic Siddur). The Siddur makes no differences. Neither should we.
When a Rov tells you to divide Klal Isroel then we have to question it.
It saddens me that his son doesn’t speak with the same tone and directives as he. After all, everybody can understand that it makes perfect sense for a Sefardi to learn the Ben Ish Chai over the Kitzer Shulchan Orech.
Furthermore, Lalum’s taking this to the secular court has not only cause several innocent people to go to jail (remember, these are parent that went to jail because they chose to send their children to other schools outside Emanuel rather than send their children to the Emanuel Bais Yaakov.), he has also caused a horrible chilul Hashem by strengthening the power of the B’Gatz. Those supporting him are as guilty as him.
It’s possible that Rav Ovadyia’s (shlita) statement, “…“raises his hands against the Torah of Moshe Rabbeinu” and does not have a share in the Next World. ” was directed towards Lalum. (Of course, this is only speculation. Not to be taken as fact.)
Are only Sefardi schools considered discrimination or is it only discrimination when it is an Ashkenazi school?
First off #2, I like the comment. Never considered the vort on names.
Secondly, I am a tremendous fan of R’ Ovadiah. R’ Ovadiah is a gadol b’torah. I am not sefardi, so I really can’t sense the plight of 2nd class mesora…nonetheless, when one has such a rich tradition as Sefardim do (which I won’t qualify, it’s pashut) that has unfortunately since the “State” of Israel has been pressed on both sides- by the irreligious and by Askenazim (not to compare with the secularists chas v’shalom) who obviously push schools that follow their own mesora, for such a gadol to bring some Sefardi pride back. Geshmakt! His gaonness is pashut! His gadlus is unequivocal! This story and every other… I also dig the glasses.
DQB