Minister of Religious Services (Shas) Yaakov Margi released a statement that Yahadut HaTorah MK R’ Moshe Gafne “crossed a red line” in his scathing verbal attack against Shas after the latter decided to join the World Zionist Congress.
Margi explained that Shas has never openly criticized a decision from Ashkenazi gedolei yisrael and Gafne’s words were simply uncalled for and way out of line. Margi added that even in the previous administration, when the Torah community was facing danger of collapse due to the decision of an Ashkenazi gadol, Shas remained silent.
“Gafne is mixing up the facts to gain media attention and he appears to not have a problem with the chilul Hashem as well as insulting Kodshei and Gedolei Yisrael.
Margi added that he personally recommends that Gafne arise early and daven, and head for The Rav and request mechila for his words, criticizing actions that were based on a decision from Maran HaRav Ovadia Yosef Shlita. He concluded in a media interview that the insult was so significant that he would not be surprised if some of the MKs in Shas are presently unwilling to speak with him.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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3 Responses
Regardless of the decision, this is a complete lack of respect for a Torah authority. Why do Ashkenazim feel they have the right to disrespect the Sephardic Gedolim? You NEVER see a Sephardic person even question the ruling of an Ashkenaz Gadol even thought his Rabbi might feel differently. I would even go so far as to say that this lack of disrespect is probably the cause of most of the strife and disunity in the Ashkenaz world. Us Sepahrdim may argue a lot with each other, but when it comes to a Rav, there is no argument! Show some respect!
Moshe Gafne is more interested in his own political agenda than he is in ahvas Yisroel. His hurtful comments bear witness.
“All” Ashkenazim do this and “all” Sephardim don’t do that. I think that generalizing about whole segments of the Jewish population by sephardicpride did nothing to enhance his pride and perhaps IS the cause of any of the strife or disunity in the Jewish world as a whole. Shabbat Shalom.