The Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef, issued a response to the harsh criticism of his remarks against the non-Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet Union.
"I said clearly and I say again: alongside many blessed immigration of hundreds of thousands of Jews from the former Soviet Union who have spent many years guarding Jewish values in exile, there are a minority of non-Jewish immigrants who came by virtue of the" grandchild "section of the Law of Return permitting those whose father and mother are not Jews to immigrate to Israel. During my last month's visit to Jewish communities flourishing in Russia and Ukraine, I was exposed to the harsh criticism that exists among these communities for the immigration of many non-Jews to Israel. "
"It is very unfortunate that there are those who feel themselves being harmed by the way things are and are blatantly misrepresenting what I said including by political parties who have been inciting for months against the tradition of Judaism and Halacha, and it is important to state the truth," Rabbi Yosef said.