Rav Yitzchak Yosef Slams Rabbis Who Permit Temple Mount Ascent: ‘Don’t Reach Ankles Of Gedolim’

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Sephardi chief rabbi Yitzchak Yosef sharply criticized several religious Zionist rabbis as well as Public Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir over their viewpoint on ascent to Temple Mount.

In his weekly shiur which is televised on a special channel, Rabbi Yosef revealed that the Chief Rabbinate Council had discussed a proposal regarding ascent to Temple Mount. “There is a sign from the Chief Rabbinate stating that one should not enter Temple Mount,” he said. “A rabbi stood up and said that the sign should be removed or altered to say ‘Some say that it is prohibited to enter and some say it is permitted.’ The other members of the council argued with him, and he said ‘We have rabbis of our own’. Who’s that? Rabbi Dov Lior and all kinds of rabbis who don’t reach the ankles of the gedolim of the previous generation.

“How can they permit? Who are they compared with the Steipler, Rav Shach, the Chazon Ish, Maran (Rabbi Ovadia Yosef), and Rabbi Elyashiv. They don’t come close to them….I told Rabbi Lau to make a vote and not to be afraid. A vote was taken about removing the sign, and two people voted in favor – one who became Jerusalem Chief Rabbi through a deal (Rabbi Aryeh Stern) and one who is chief rabbi of Tzfat (Rav Shmuel Eliyahu).”

Rabbi Yosef also rebuked Ben-Gvir, stating that “There is one of the government ministers, who is not worthy of being mentioned by name, who publicly enters Temple Mount- he is sinning and causing others to sin. Because of him people erroneously enter the precinct.”