Top Rabbi Slams State Prosecutor Over Banned Rabbi Ovadia Yosef Memorial Event

The Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, launched an unprecedented verbal attack against the State Prosecutor, Gali Baharav-Miara, during his weekly sermon. The condemnation stems from the prosecutor's decision to cancel memorial events for Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, a revered spiritual leader and former Chief Rabbi.

Rabbi Yosef accused the prosecutor of being anti-religious and stated that God would punish her for interfering with the legacy of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef. "This wicked woman is meddling with Maran? God will destroy her, she will get her punishment," Rabbi Yosef declared, expressing visible anger.

He contrasted the cancellation of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's events with the permissibility of events for Yitzhak Rabin, a former Prime Minister who was assassinated. Rabbi Yosef argued that Rabbi Ovadia Yosef was a Torah scholar, not a political figure, and deserved to be honored. He noted the massive turnout of nearly a million people at Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's funeral as evidence of his broad appeal across all segments of Israeli society.

The State Prosecutor's office had reportedly issued a legal opinion against holding public gatherings close to elections, a directive Rabbi Yosef vehemently opposed in this instance. He questioned why Rabin's memorial events were permitted while Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's were being blocked, suggesting a political bias against religious figures.