Attorney General's Office Insists on Post-Election Delay for Rabbi Ovadia Yosef Memorial Event

The Attorney General's Office has informed the Director-General of the Ministry of Religious Services, Yehuda Avidan, that a government-funded academic conference honoring Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, zt"l, will need to be postponed until after the upcoming elections. The office clarified that there is no intention to diminish the honor due to Rabbi Yosef, a revered Sephardic sage, but stressed that events with extensive media coverage, especially those funded by the government, are subject to election regulations.

However, the Attorney General's Office emphasized that any event not funded by the government is permissible to hold at any time. This decision comes amid concerns about the potential for political exploitation of public events during the election period. The ministry had sought to hold the conference, which is intended to commemorate Rabbi Yosef's legacy and scholarly contributions.