Rabbi Yosef Ben Porat Slams Rabbi Dov Lior Over Temple Mount Halacha

Rabbi Yosef Ben Porat, head of the "Ashrei Ha'ish" yeshiva and a figure who precedes the sermons of Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, has sharply criticized Rabbi Dov Lior and other Religious Zionist rabbis who supported him. The dispute centers on comments made by Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef regarding the Temple Mount.

In a lecture, Rabbi Ben Porat referred to Rabbi Lior as "a person who publicly desecrates God's name," and questioned the support he received. "How can this be?" he asked, adding, "All honor to a scholar, but our Sages said: A scholar who lacks fear of Heaven is not a scholar. They also said: A scholar who lacks sense is worse than a carcass."

Ben Porat further criticized the rabbis who backed Lior, asking, "How dare you? Not only do you not protest Rabbi Dov Lior, but you defend his honor? A person who publicly desecrates God's name by permitting those who are obligated to bring a sin offering."

The controversy stems from Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef's halachic ruling, which has drawn criticism and support, leading to this public exchange between prominent rabbis.