State Memorial Event for Rabbi Ovadia Yosef Officially Canceled

The state memorial event for Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, scheduled to take place at Binyanei Ha'uma in Jerusalem from October 6-8, has been officially canceled. Yehuda Avidan, Director General of the Ministry of Religious Services, sent a formal letter to the Jerusalem Municipality instructing them to cancel hall reservations.

The decision stems from legal proceedings in the High Court of Justice and the position of the Attorney General, who ruled against funding the event at this time. The cancellation follows weeks of legal and public controversy surrounding the event's timing during an election period. Legal advisors had demanded its cancellation or postponement, fearing it could be used for election campaigning.

Conversely, the Ministry of Religious Services and the Shas party argued that the event was a mandatory state commemoration. They filed an urgent petition to the High Court after the Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Judge Noam Sohlberg, stated he lacked the authority to intervene.

With the official cancellation, preparations for the event have ceased. The Ministry of Religious Services indicated that if an alternative event is decided upon later, further discussions will be held with the Jerusalem Municipality.