Rabbi David Stav condemns former Chief Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef’s personal attacks on MK Yuli Edelstein, warning that such rhetoric dishonors Torah debate and crosses a sacred red line.
Jerusalem — A fierce war of words erupted in Israel’s religious and political arenas after Rabbi David Stav, Chair and Founder of the Tzohar Rabbinical Organization, issued a scathing public rebuke against former Sephardi Chief Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef over what he called “disgraceful” personal attacks on Knesset Member Yuli Edelstein.
In his weekly sermon, Rabbi Yosef singled out Edelstein — who has been leading efforts to boost IDF enlistment — accusing him of betraying Jewish tradition and even claiming that Edelstein’s late father had converted to Christianity and become a priest. The remarks come as the haredi parties’ withdrawal from the coalition intensifies the political standoff over military service exemptions.
“Particularly Shocking” Timing
Rabbi Stav blasted the comments as not only deeply personal but also profoundly un‑Torah‑like:
“It is particularly shocking that such words were spoken in the very week we read the Torah portion recounting how detractors tried to undermine Pinchas by insulting his lineage. Thousands of years later, we are once again witnessing baseless personal smears when substantive arguments run dry.”
Crossing a Sacred Red Line
Stav accused Yosef of violating the Torah prohibition against reminding someone of their parent’s sins:
“When Torah scholars abandon measured debate for lowly personal attacks, they disgrace themselves and the Torah they claim to represent. The moment legitimate claims are exhausted, insults follow — a sure sign that the debate has lost its merits.”
He urged religious leaders to argue policy without abandoning dignity and to remember that even in moments of sharp disagreement, respect for one’s fellow Jew is a sacred obligation.
This clash underscores not only the political fault lines over IDF service but also the growing crisis of civility within Israel’s religious leadership — a conflict now playing out in full view of the public.
