Shas officials are signaling that a decision has been reached regarding its candidate for the post of Rishon L’Tzion, HaGaon HaRav Avraham Yosef, a son of Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef Shlita and the chief rabbi of Holon. According to a Ladaat report, the decision was reached today, 17 Tammuz 5773 by Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef Shlita.
Some of the candidates being considered include younger son, HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Yosef the author of the Yalkut Yitzchak and Beersheva Chief Rabbi Yehuda Deri, a brother of Shas leader Aryeh Deri.
Some of the considerations appear to include the fact that Rav Avraham is older and is currently serving as the chief rabbi of a city. In addition, it appears Rav Ovadia would like to see Rav Yitzchak elected as the Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Yerushalayim.
Interestingly, from the chareidi perspective, it is more likely that chareidi parties will support Tzfas Chief Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu for the post for his has a less liberal hashkafa regarding heter mechira. The son’s of Rav Ovadia Shlita follow his psak Halacha which includes heter mechira regarding shmitah.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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8 Responses
Shmittah year is around the corner and foremost for decision making.
Rav Elyashuv zt”l preferred Rav Eliyahu over Rav Yakov Yosef,,so this should be exciting.
The underlying basis for the ‘heter mechirah’ is that while the majority of Am Yisrael is not in E”Y shmitah is derabanan. B”H, demographic trends indicate that this will not be the case for very much longer, so the H”M will likely not be around for more than a few more shnot shmitah. But for so long as it is a viable solution the Chief Rabbinate will not cancel the h”m (which solves a plethora of halachic issues, particularly regarding Jews who are not shomrei torah umitzvot) no matter who the chief rabbis are.
#2 It is a psak Halacha from Rav Ovadia regarding HM, besides the original basis of the Chief Rabbinate.
The Kenesset can always switch the responsiblity for the “Heter Mechirah” to the Minister of Agriculture. From the point of view of non-hareidi Israelis, what difference does it make if one government agency rules on halacha or another. If most Israelis were asked whom they look to in matters of halacha, Lapid would comfortably win over all the candidates for “chief rabbi” combined.
#3- I’m not sure that I understand your comment. Are you saying that harav Ovadia’s analysis is not based on the majority of Jews living outside of E”Y? I’m afraid that I don’t have the Yabia Omer in front of me.
#5 If I am correct the pasak of the Chief Rabbinate followed Rav Spectner/Rav Kook while the Sephardim heter came about after that through Rav Ovadia Yosef halachic decision.
“If most Israelis were asked whom they look to in matters of halacha, Lapid would comfortably win over all the candidates for “chief rabbi” combined” — Love a good joke and this one doesn’t even rate. Many Frum, nationalist Jews, Mesorati Jews and a segment of secular Jews (= about 70% of Jewish Israeli citizens) look to the office of Chief Rabbinate. (in addition to their area Rav or Yeshiva RY)
During Shemittah year should I buy Arab produce or rely on heter mechira?
Neither-Otzar beth din is the correct alternative which does not involve strengthening the hold of our enemies on Eretz Yisrael in any manner.
Machonshilo
#6- A great many rabbis have paskened in favor of the HM. Sephardi Chief Rabbis and sepharadim in general in EY had accepted the HM long before harav Ovadia published his psak. As a matter of fact, harav Ovadia himself has noted that back in the days of the ‘HM controversy’ in the 19th century (leminyanam) it was sephardic rabbis who promoted the idea of the HM. See, http://www.halachayomit.co.il/displayRead.asp?readID=461