Chief Rabbi: 'We Need Dialogue, I'm Worried About Civil War'

By Arutz-7
Posted on 03/18/23 | News Source: Arutz-7

Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, discussed the government's judicial reform legislation during a lecture on Saturday evening.

"We are the Great Rabbinical Court, they are the Supreme Court. Why should they be above us? Why shouldn't we be above them?" the Chief Rabbi wondered.

Concerning the demonstrations against the plan, he stated, "We need peace among the nation. All of the disagreements, all of the civil wars, are very disturbing and painful. We need dialogue."

Rabbi Yosef called to explain to the general public that the Supreme Court has no say on matters of religion.

"I'm not getting involved in the details of the reform, but we have to explain to them, to convince them, to meet with them, that at least in matters of religion, there is no place for the court's involvement," he added.

The Chief Rabbi brought the example of the 2018 ruling that the ban on bringing chametz (leavened products that are forbidden on Passover) into hospitals over Passover was illegal. "For instance, when it comes to chametz. People will be afraid to be hospitalized because there is chametz in the hospital. We have to explain it to them. Love your brother as you love yourself. I don't understand other issues, and I don't talk about matters that I don't understand," Rabbi Yosef explained.