During a dedication of a new sefer, “משנת יוסף” , written by Rishon L’Tzion Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef, guest speaker HaRav Bentzion Mutzafi lashed out at Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who has announced he is banning Rav Yosef from all IDF bases and participation in military events. The reason for the ban is Rav Yosef’s criticism of recent IDF policy changes which contradict halacha, including the mixed-gender combat units.
Rav Mutzafi began with the words of HaGaon HaRav Yehuda Tzadka ZT”L, who spoke of persons who did not want sons who are talmidei chachamim but preferred they would be wealthy and not poor. In his reference to DM Lieberman, Rav Mutzafi added, “One who comes from Russia and begins to lecture us about Shabbos or about one person or another. Who is he anyway? We do not count him and we do not consider him. It is as if he does not exist and the wind will carry it and the storm disperse it”.
Rav Mutzafi went on to praise Rav Yosef’s new sefer, citing how a day does not pass on which people are not learning from one of his seforim, first and foremost, Yalkut Yosef.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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4 Responses
“One who comes from Russia and begins to lecture us about Shabbos or about one person or another. Who is he anyway?”
Well, I think it’s a bit silly to critique a fellow Jew based on his coming from Russia. If the Beis Halevi, the Brisker Rov, Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, the Rogachover Gaon, and (if you’ll count the Lithuanian part of the Russian Empire) the Roshei Yeshiva of Volozhin and Mir, then maybe R’ Mutzafi might do well to listen to a few Russians…
The point is not from where Liberman hails. The fact that an am ha’aretz of Liberman’s stature has the arrogance to spout such drivel against a Talmid Chacham of the stature of Rav Yitzchak Yosef is staggeringly impudent. It’s a tremendous affront to Hashem and His Torah.
Morgan frost , You knew very well what the rabbi ment , but you chose to twist his words , I feel sorry for the gehinam you will burn in
Make a Point– I do know what the rabbi meant, and I find his words obnoxious and beneath the dignity of his station. As to you, I would be extremely careful about assigning spaces in Olam Ha’ba to a fellow Jew. These kinds of prophecies have a funny way of bouncing back on the sender… just saying.