Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef

With Arabic subtitles:

Jerusalem rabbis call on Jews not to visit Temple Mount

At the request of Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion, five senior haredi rabbis published a video calling on Jews not to visit Judaism's holiest site.

Chief Rabbi's ruling:

Releasing terrorists 'permitted' in order to free hostages

Outgoing Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef calls for government to sign prisoner swap deal, claiming 'there is no choice - release terrorists with blood on their hands.'

Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef hospitalized-and released

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef evacuated to Jerusalem hospital for tests after feeling unwell on Saturday morning.

'Fools, where're your brains?'

Chief Rabbi vs. Supreme Court Justices

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef slams Supreme Court decision to freeze funds to yeshivas. 'Where are their brains? They are cutting off the branch they are sitting on.'

Rabbi Stav:

'Chief Rabbi's disdainful words desecrate Hashem’s name'

The chairman of the Tzohar rabbinical organization remarks by Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef that Torah students are the ones protecting Israel and not the IDF.

Chief rabbi: In whose merit were we saved? The Chief of Staff's?

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef slams heads of hesder yeshivas, who demanded he rescind his statements.

Chief rabbi:

Do not visit places of entertainment when the nation is suffering

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef calls on yeshiva students to sanctify G-d's Name, avoid 'walking around the streets and places of entertainment' when the People of Israel are suffering.

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef offered Israel Prize

Sephardi Chief Rabbi's office says Rabbi Yosef would not agree to accept the Israel Prize for Torah Literature, as in his opinion this is not the time for 'ceremonies and celebrations' due to the war.

'No contradiction'

Rabbi Lau implicitly responds to Rabbi Yosef

Rabbi David Lau says 'The people of Israel, the Torah of Israel, the Land of Israel, come from the same place' at soldier's funeral after Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef threatens haredim will leave Israel over draft law.

After the uproar:

Sephardi Chief Rabbi explains himself

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, Sephardic Chief Rabbi, clarifies: Comments were directed against the recruitment of those engaged in Torah learning, those who do not study 'absolutely forbidden from finding excuses not to serve.'

Bereaved father to Chief Rabbi:

Your words are an arrow in bereaved mothers' hearts

Bereaved father tried to arrange a meeting of Chief Rabbi with bereaved mothers; rabbi's office refused. 'It's not too late, this is the honor of the Torah, your honor, the honor of our fallen sons.'

More than 80% Israeli Jews: Cancel IDF exemption

Despite Israel's Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef’s warning, 74% of haredi Jews say that even if they had the option of emigrating from Israel, they would not do so.

Hesder Yeshiva Head:

'Torah scholars must join compulsory war'

Rav Yitzchak Sheilat believes that Torah scholars should go to war when it is a compulsory war and argued that they are not the tribe of Levi, as Rav Yitzchak Yosef claimed.

Chief Rabbi:

'If they force us to enlist, we will leave Israel'

Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef drew a wave of controversy when he stated that under no circumstances should the government force yeshiva students to serve in the IDF.

Chief Rabbi at naval base:

'War needs both military and spiritual might'

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef visited the Haifa Naval Base where he spoke with soldiers and inaugurated a new synagogue.

Chief Rabbi Yosef:

'Don't forget the hostages; pray for them'

The Sefardic Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, insisted that the Torah-observant public must not stop praying for their return.

Chief Rabbi condemns soldiers' use of mosque loudspeakers

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef tells IDF Chief Rabbi soldiers cannot behave in a manner which disrespects other religions after incident in Jenin.

Sephardic Chief Rabbi:

Secular public is jealous of us, and that creates hatred

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef harshly criticizes Tel Aviv protests against public prayers.

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef:

'Going to public mixed beaches is forbidden due to immodesty'

Sephardic Chief Rabbi warns yeshiva students against many activities during summer break, says they can only visit parks and the zoo..

Chief Rabbi doubles down: Forbidden to ascend Temple Mount

But he also clarifies: 'We do not intend to disparage rabbis from of all circles, God forbid.'

Chief Rabbi slams minister: 'He sins and leads others astray'

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, Sephardic Chief Rabbi, slams National Security Min. Itamar Ben Gvir during his weekly Torah class.

Sephardic Chief Rabbi won't stay on: 'I want to focus on Torah'

'I expect and hope to end my term, and to focus on Torah and service of G-d,' Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef says.

Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef under fire for 'illegal' instruction

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef tells Interior Minister Moshe Arbel to only give budgets to towns with a synagogue or yeshiva.

Chief Rabbi: Govt. moved too fast on judicial reforms

Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef says he is greatly pained by the rift in Israeli society over the judicial reforms.

Chief Rabbi:

'We need dialogue, I'm worried about civil war'

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef said that the public needs to understand that the Supreme Court has no say on matters of religion.

Chief Rabbi on Aharon Barak:

'He doesn't know the 'Shema Yisrael' prayer, that's a Jew'?

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef attacked the former Supreme Court President during a class.

Meeting between Chief Rabbi Yosef, Ben-Gvir cancelled

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef has rebuked Minister Ben-Gvir for visiting the Temple Mount.

Sephardic Chief Rabbi chastises Ben-Gvir for Temple Mount visit

Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem Shlomo Amar slam minister for entering Temple Mount when they forbid it.

Sephardic Chief Rabbi:

'The people of Israel lost a great and versatile personality'

For decades he stood to the right of the Chief Rabbinate since the days of my father Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, who had a deep friendship with him.

Big changes in IDF:

Sephardic Chief Rabbi to appoint Chief Rabbi of IDF

According to the coalition agreements, a law will be passed strengthening the role of the IDF Chief Rabbi.

Grandchild born to Rabbi Mordechai Sternberg during his funeral

Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef says Jewish people lost a leader who cared about the entire people.

Liberman calls for Sephardic Chief Rabbi to be fired

Yisrael Beytenu head outraged at comments made on 'Who is a Jew?'

'For those who can't learn'

Chief Rabbi attacks religious Zionist Hesder yeshivas

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef disparages religious Zionist educational institutions, compares them to 'holy yeshivot.'

Chief Rabbi blasts those who permit Temple Mount entry

Sephardi Chief Rabbi blasts those who ascend the Temple Mount, contrary to the opinion of all the great rabbis of Israel.

The Chief Rabbi's last letter: Get vaccinated against polio

Parents have 'holy obligation, Torah commandment' to vaccinate children against polio, letter from rabbis Ovadia & Yitzhak Yosef says.

Kahana blasts 'extremism' within Religious-Zionist sector

Kahana condemns rabbis for failing to protest speech by Chief Rabbi, calls for an "end to divisive discourse."

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef: 'Minor rabbis' mislead Minister Kahana

Sephardic Chief Rabbi rails conversion, kashrut reforms of Religious Affairs Minister Matan Kahana.

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef jokes: Rabbi Goren put Abba Eban to sleep

In his weekly sermon, Sephardic Chief Rabbi recalls the inauguration of his father and Rabbi Shlomo Goren as Israel's chief rabbis in 1973.

Chief Rabbi: Torah leaders objected to municipal conversions

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef slams leading Religious Zionist rabbi for agreeing in principle to allowing municipal rabbis to perform conversions.

Ombudsman: Remove Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef's status as judge

Former Supreme Court Justice Uri Shoham tells Religious Affairs Minister Chief Rabbi Yosef's opposition to kashrut reforms has gone too far.

Chief rabbis pen letter against kashrut reforms

Rabbis David Lau and Yitzhak Yosef call proposed kashrut reforms an attempt to destroy Jewishness of State of Israel.

President Herzog visits Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef's Sukkah

On first intermediate day of Sukkot, President Isaac Herzog pays visit to Chief Sefardic Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef's sukkah.

Chief Rabbis lead protest against kashrut reforms

Rabbis from all over Israel gather to protest against reforms they say would 'destroy' kashrut system in Israel.

Rabbi Druckman: Shocked Chief Rabbi would advise against aliyah

Leading religious Zionist rabbi responds to Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef's call not to make aliyah to secular communities.

Chief rabbi calls on young students not to learn core curriculum

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, Sephardic Chief Rabbi, praises those who study in 'holy yeshivas' which do not teach the core curriculum.

Chief Rabbi Yosef calls on Jews not to attack Arab neighbors

Sephardic Chief Rabbi warns Jewish citizenry in mixed cities not to take law into their own hands or attack Arabs.

Chief rabbi to A-G: 'Freeze ruling allowing hametz in hospitals'

Chief Rabbi Yosef asks Attorney General Mandelblit to prevent implementation of ruling allowing desecration of Passover in hospitals.

Chief Rabbi: Reform conversions 'aren't Jewish'

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, Chief Sephardic Rabbi of Israel, excoriates Reform conversions, calling them 'not Jewish'.

Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef issues pandemic Purim guidelines

Rabbi Yosef issues guidelines after meeting COVID Czar, including limiting crowds at synagogues, eating only with nuclear family.

Chief rabbi: 'We must remove the rioters'

Sephardic Chief Rabbi responds to Bnei Brak violence, urges authorities to take cation. 'No justification for such serious acts.'

Betzalel Smotrich:

'We respect Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef but don't need his approval'

Chief Rabbi had stated: "Main requirement of city rabbi is that he is expert in Jewish law, not an IDF officer or hesder yeshiva graduate."

'It is obligatory to get vaccinated against coronavirus'

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef rules: According to halakha, everyone should go and get vaccinated.

Historic visit of the Sephardic Chief Rabbi to the UAE

UAE's Religious Tolerance Minister tells Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef: "We're all family here."

Israeli Chief Rabbi in historic visit to United Arab Emirates

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef officiates over special ceremony at Jewish Community Center in Dubai, celebrating UAE recognition of Jewish community.

Bahraini delegation meets Chief Rabbi, President and Dep. Mayor

Member of Bahraini royal family reportedly among delegation visiting Israel, meeting with three Israeli leaders

Chief Rabbi of Israel denounces wigs as 'idolatrous'

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, Chief Rabbi of Israel, slams custom of wearing wigs, saying the hair used is collected in idolatrous rituals.

Chief Rabbi: Whoever endangers others must bear his guilt

Sephardic Chief Rabbi meets with Coronavirus Czar, issues joint statement calling on public to obey Health Ministry guidelines.

Rabbi Yosef: They forgot Rabbi Ovadia

Sephardic Chief Rabbi criticizes Torah education organization for leaving out all mention of his father's rulings from books.

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef condemns illegal holding of public prayers

Sephardic chief rabbi says those who insist on holding minyanim during current health crisis could have blood on their hands.

'Tested for coronavirus? Leave your phone on during Shabbat'

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef says those who were tested for coronavirus should leave their phones on during Shabbat.