Senior Shas Rabbi Condemns Rabbi Aryeh Yazdi's Harsh Criticism of IDF Chief of Staff

Rabbi Moshe Maya, the senior member of Shas' Council of Torah Sages, issued a strong statement condemning the extreme remarks made by Rabbi Aryeh Yazdi against IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir. Rabbi Maya expressed deep regret over the harsh language used at a protest rally in Bnei Brak, emphasizing that such expressions do not align with Torah values. He highlighted that the tradition is to pray for the success and safety of soldiers who risk their lives for Israel, signing off with a call for peace and respect.

This statement followed an official denunciation from the Shas party earlier the same day, which clarified that Rabbi Yazdi's comments do not represent the views of the Council of Torah Sages or the party's approach as established by Rabbi Ovadia Yosef. The party reaffirmed its alignment with the remarks made by Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef during the rally.

Rabbi Yazdi's controversial speech criticized the IDF chief of staff for imprisoning a soldier who wore a "Messiah" patch, calling Zamir "accursed." This provoked widespread condemnation from political and security leaders, including President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Defense Minister Israel Katz, all of whom condemned the incitement and disrespect toward the military leadership.

Sources close to Rabbi Yazdi described his remarks as a "slip of the tongue," while also criticizing the swift condemnations, claiming that no support had been given to Torah scholars. They asserted that the statements were made with rabbinic approval and noted that Rabbi Yazdi does not engage with the media. They also argued that such expressions are not unusual within the Torah world, citing similar past statements by prominent rabbis. Nonetheless, Rabbi Maya's declaration clarifies the official spiritual leadership stance of Shas on this matter.