Ex-Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef Accuses Israeli Media of Inciting Against Haredim

Former Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef has accused Israeli media outlets of inciting hatred against the ultra-Orthodox community. Speaking during his weekly Torah lesson on Saturday, October 10, Yosef addressed the media's coverage of draft evasion within the Haredi sector and subsequent protests involving road blockades. While Yosef criticized the radical ultra-Orthodox demonstrations against the detention of draft dodgers, he identified the media as the primary instigator of negative public opinion.

Yosef stated that yeshiva students "save the Land of Israel" and are crucial for "saving the generation." He argued that the media's portrayal of yeshiva students as draft dodgers is inaccurate, asserting that "they themselves (the journalists) are draft dodgers." He drew a parallel to the views of Rabbi Avraham Yeshayahu Krelitz, known as the Chazon Ish, who reportedly viewed secular Jews as being "in captivity to gentiles." Yosef suggested that secular Israelis, while seeing religious people, are also influenced by media "incitement" that constantly speaks out against yeshiva students.

The former Chief Rabbi further criticized secular education, describing teachers as "savages" and their students as "unfortunate." He recounted his own experience in a secular school, observing a teacher eating a sandwich without the customary blessings, implying this lack of religious observance negatively influences students.