Yitzhak Yosef

Throughout the Jewish world, Israel stands out by having two chief rabbis. The ‘Magazine’ looks at why – and asks if this model should continue

The Sephardi chief rabbi complained about hesder yeshiva leaders who had criticized his comments about the IDF.

The tragedy is that ultimately, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has lied to himself. Netanyahu, the conservative political realist, has entered into a phase of delusional fantasy.

Anti-government protests will continue in Jerusalem on Tuesday for a third day since demonstrations in the capital began on Sunday.

Unlike traditional approaches that often focus on negotiations with haredi leaders, speaking directly to community members requires a nuanced understanding of their values, concerns, and aspirations.

Rabbi David Lau said, "We are blessed with an extraordinary generation of soldiers, unwavering in their dedication, who rise to protect the people of Israel, the Torah of Israel, and Israel."

Expecting Netanyahu and Deri to act right overlooks their leadership failures, transforming the conscription crisis from a potential Shas triumph into disaster for the State of Israel.

October 7 confirmed that calling for ceasefires prematurely, as many of these “religious leaders” also did in 2009, 2012, 2014, and 2021, is peace-posturing and not peace-seeking. 

Yair Lapid lambasted the chief rabbi’s remarks on Sunday, stating, “Rabbi Yosef's words are an insult and disgrace to the IDF soldiers who risk their lives to defend the country."

"The yeshivas and kollels hold up the world. The state exists on Torah study, and without the Torah, the army would not have succeeded."