Top Sephardi rabbi backs protests and attacks Shas leadership over draft pressure

A leaked recording published Wednesday shows Sephardi Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef sharply criticizing the government and, indirectly, Shas chairman Aryeh Deri, even as Shas remains a senior coalition partner. In the audio, Yosef says the movement is joining protests against the authorities because they are blocking and pursuing Torah students, including yeshiva students, scholars and married students, and he adds that the discrimination is especially against Sephardim.

Yosef said he was outraged that a supposedly right-wing government was imposing what he called severe decrees on Torah learners. “Woe to us that דווקא a right-wing government has such decrees on the men of Torah, on the married students and on the holy Torah,” he said, adding that the protest is a “complete protest against the desecration of Torah.” He also said, “We do not trust those who are in politics, their right hand is a false right hand,” a pointed remark widely understood as aimed at Deri.

The rabbi urged the authorities to stop interfering with Torah scholars and Sephardi Torah students, saying, “Take your hands off Torah scholars, loosen your grip on the Sephardi men of Torah. Leave us alone, and we will sit and study Torah.” He also backed the demonstrations, despite Shas officials refraining from joining the protest during the day.

Yosef further argued that even men who are not studying in yeshiva should not enlist in the IDF. He said, “Whoever is occupied in Torah is exempt from going to the army, and even someone who is not occupied in Torah. How can he go to such a secular army...” The comments come against the backdrop of a draft bill promoted by Shas that included enlistment targets.