Rishon L’Tzion HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Yosef Shlita denies the Chief Rabbinate requests DNA from immigrants from the Former Soviet Union, as is alleged by the chairman of the Yisrael Beitenu party, MK Avigdor Lieberman, who petitioned the High Court of Justice on the matter. “There is no such thing, it is a lie, an outright lie!” stated Rav Yosef.
During the rav’s weekly motzei Shabbos shiur in Yerushalayim’s Yazdim Shul, Rav Yosef stated, “You know that in Russia, there are some who are not Jews. The Chief Rabbinate never requested DNA sample from Russians. There is no such thing. What they are saying it a lie- an outright lie!”
Rav Yosef explained that when they are working to determine the Jewishness of new immigrants from the FSU, they probe the matter. For example, does the grandmother speak Yiddish? Where the person grew up and other facts. The rav explained many new immigrants come, from Russia, the Ukraine, Ethiopia and other places and the Chief Rabbinate is responsible to determine who is Jewish and who is not.
Lieberman began a storm with his DNA allegations against the Chief Rabbinate during elections for the 21st Knesset. The Chief Rabbinate denied the allegations immediately, stating they are unfounded in reality.
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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6 Responses
Shame on Lieberman, you’re playing with fire,bibi is one thing,but al tiguoo bimshichay
Be careful!!!
I am sure it is indeed not true, but Mr. Lieberman does seem to be admitting that Jews are demonstrably different from non-Jews. We don’t need his haskomah, but it is interesting.
Lieberman IS A LIAR What a massive understatement, of true appellation for Lieberman.
there is a great deal more to the DNA controversy. it is possible to establish a maternal line of descent via DNA in some instances. some poskim are willing to rely on such evidence. not a topic for a blog level TC.
Since he brought up the issue of DNA, maybe we should takka check Lieberman’s DNA. Is he Jewish? Maybe he is Romanian, Ukrainian, or gypsy.
But there are several letters on Rabbanut headed notepaper, which can be immediately found on-line, in which the Rabbanut does demand DNA data?