“Our dear friend, who does a great deal on behalf of Torah” are the words used by Shas spiritual leader Rav Ovadia Yosef Shlita at an assembly in Yerushalayim in reference to opposition leader Binyamin Netanyahu. The former chief rabbi made his comments at a Mossad HaRav Kook conference addressing morality in leadership.
Interestingly, it was Netanyahu who eliminated the monthly child allowance payments, after which he was persona non grata with Shas, but now, for reasons that remain somewhat of a mystery, he may be the candidate who enjoys Shas party support in the next national election. Perhaps despite it all, he is viewed as the lesser of the evils.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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27 Responses
Anyone who plays the dirty game known as Israeli politics, at the end of the day gets burned.
There are no clean players. Netanyahu is as dirty as the rest. Put your faith in him, and learn the hard way.
borei me’orei ha “govt grant”
although, the truth is, we have no choice but netanyahu!
#1 is not Shas also playing politics? Does your statement hold true for Shas as well?
#3, my statement is all inclusive and without exception.
Joseph,
I’ll make sure to give HaRav Ovadiah your message the next time I see him.
Careful how you talk about the Godol HaDor, please.
Netanyahu more than anyone else is able to communicate the Israeli position effectively to the media which is so important with all of the Arab propanganda that is on the Internet, the press, television, etc.
Yatzmich, My statement is not my own. It is fully grounded in the position of many Gedolim.
Yatzmich, And in any event, where did Rav Ovadia say anything in conflict with the position of the Gedolim that I stated in #1? (If there is, its between Rav Ovadia and the Gedolim.)
It will be a breath of fresh air to see Netanyahu back in the picture again.
I don’t like the articles supposition that he is the lesser of the two evils. I don’t see Netanyahu as evil. Perhaps responsible journalists should think twice before writing for the public. Get the facts before speculating a very personal opinion.
as much as we all think we know everything—
there are Rabbis who have spent almost every breathing minute of their life immersed in Torah and Kedusha. Their decisions and though processes are completely out of this world. And while other Gedolim may disagree, the discussion of such affairs is completely out of any of OUR realms. For your own safety, please refrain from discussing Rabbis and their opinions — as the Mishna in Pirke Avot says – ‘be careful of their burning coals so you do not get burned–for their bite is that of a fox and their sting is that of a scorpion and their venom is that of a poisonous snake and all of their words are like burning coals’.
Whatever (if any) benefit that is gained in posting ANY discussion of Rabbinical opinions on a public forum (or anywhere else), is surely not even worth the RISK of any detrimental effects that can come about from it….
We have enough problems!
veryinteresting —
This is a blog and I don’t see any particular issue with it taking any position (like that Netanyahu is a rotten dog like the rest.)
Where is it written one cannot express their views? Even the press, which this is not, express’ their opinions in every piece of garbage article they write, as much as they vehemently deny they are expressing their opinions.
Netanyahu would be a great spokesman in the princple-based Feiglin administration. Let’s face it, we now have the opportunity to elect Moshe Feiglin, someone who is belief-based, interested in the true long-term survival of Eretz Yisroel. He will not shake hands with the enemy nor will he cede territory like Netanyahu did in his previous chance as PM.
many gedolim like who the moetzes, (UTJ) americain rabbonim yeah right. Oh i know netuei karta
esschumras — Get your facts straight. There is no criticism of any Gadol c’v. The comments don’t even criticize the Shas party, which has a hechsher of a Gadol, but isn’t the Gadol himself. It criticizes Netanyahu, who is FAR from being a Gadol. AND the criticism, as previously mentioned, isn’t my own. It is from the GEDOLIM.
Joseph,
I have to add my 2 cents here if you dont mind.
On the blog in the ‘coffee room’ when I questioned the Gedolim for implementing Takonos, you crticized me for my arrogance. Why are you contradicting Rav Ovadia Josef?
Perhaps despite it all, he is viewed as the lesser of the evils— Lesser of two evils is a reason enough to vote for Bibi, until some real leadership emerges.
nameless — I’m not.
Joseph,
If that is the position of other Gedolim, then so be it. You still have to watch what you say about the Chacham Ovadiah Slit”a
I wouldn’t take Joseph’s remarks too seriously. He has a tendency of confusing facts with fantasy and uses arrogance to brow-beat anyone that reveals his often faulty logic. For the most part, when I see his name at the bottom of a comment I move straight on to the next one. The issue here is that Rav Yosef, at this particular time, is supporting Netanyahu. Gedolai Torah in the past, present and probable future, in Israel, the US and elsewhere have involved in politics when it serves the agenda of further Torah or protecting the interests of the Jewish community.
Yatzmich — I haven’t said anything about Rav Ovadia. It was your presumption.
Kol Tuv
#11, Joseph.
You make an interesting point trying to distinguish between a blog and a source of news. But in this case, Yeshiva World News, by it’s own representation is called a news source and lists it’s categories as news and not blogs, which tend to be opinion journals or diaries.
If you lean to thinking these articles lean more to a blog (personal opinions/diaries/journals) rather than reporting news, I cannot understand why you would weigh the YWN to the side of blog..other than to support your view at this time.
sayitlikeitis —
That could very well be. But lets call a spade a spade, and say exactly what you suggested. That he is merely the lesser of two evils, and he is not anything to write home about.
All we have to do is look beyond all the talk. The fact is that whatever Bibi said or says, he never gave up one inch of land. I hope he wins!
Rabbi Yosef is a great person and we are blessed to have him.
I agree with Yechiel Spira (YWN Israel) that Netanyahu is the lesser of the two evils. And the reminder that it was Netanyahu who eliminated the monthly child allowance payments, etc. amongst many horrible things he did. (And that he was persona non grata with Shas.)
I still remember it was the right-wing that toppled the Netanyahu government because they felt he was not right.
Netanyahu was a disaster as PM. Only a fool could trust him again.
First time you believed Netanyahu it was a mistake.
Second time your a fool.
Netanyahu may be the lesser of the evils. But lest we forget, the lesser of the evils is still evil.
Netanyahu should be appointed official (pr) spokesman. Anything more than that, he is dangerous.