Rabbi Tzemach Mazuz, head of the Kiseh Rachamim Yeshiva in Bnei Brak, delivered sharp criticism of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara during his weekly Saturday night lecture. His remarks followed the Attorney General's directive to cancel this year's state-sponsored memorial ceremony for the late Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, who served as Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel and was the spiritual leader of the Shas party until his death in 2013. Rabbi Mazuz quoted a biblical phrase describing how someone's thoughts are "only evil all day," saying the Attorney General constantly considers "what to do to the Torah community? How to cause harm?" He accused her of devising new restrictions against the religious community on a daily basis.
Israel Politics
Rabbi Mazuz Slams Memorial Cancellation
Leading Sephardic rabbi harshly criticizes Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara's order to cancel state memorial for late Chief Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, citing concerns over electoral influence
Continuing his remarks, Rabbi Mazuz referenced a newspaper headline from Friday reporting the Attorney General's ban on the memorial gathering. He quoted the reasoning behind the decision, that the event could influence voters to support Shas, and that authorities want "pure elections" where people vote according to their conscience. "What kind of 'pure' is she," Rabbi Mazuz said sarcastically. He went on to say that nearly every day, newspaper front pages report on new decisions by the Attorney General, whom he called by harsh biblical epithets. The rabbi's language reflected deep frustration within parts of the ultra-Orthodox community over what they perceive as discriminatory treatment.
The controversy stems from the Attorney General's Thursday directive canceling the annual state memorial for Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, despite provisions in Israeli law for such commemorations. The stated rationale is that Rabbi Yosef is identified with the Shas political party, and even without explicit political statements, the memorial would constitute campaigning for the party ahead of elections.
Critics have pointed to what they see as a double standard, noting that state memorial ceremonies for assassinated Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who is directly associated with the Labor Party, continue to be held even in close proximity to election dates.
