Lowering the flames: Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef's message to IDF soldiers

After a long period during which tensions between Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef and the IDF over the issue of Haredi conscription repeatedly made headlines, the Shas party managed to lower the flames today. The former Chief Rabbi published a particularly conciliatory message toward IDF soldiers, blessed them, and defined them as "messengers of the Almighty to protect the people of Israel."

The remarks were made in a video in which Rabbi Yosef is seen alongside Shas chairman Aryeh Deri. The meeting between the two also took place against the backdrop of internal Haredi politics and the desire to project unity ahead of the elections, despite the disagreements recorded between them.

The message comes after months of sharp confrontation over the conscription issue. At the height of the struggle, Rabbi Yosef called on young Haredim not to report for duty following draft orders and even to tear them up. Following his statements, a demand was submitted to the Attorney General to order the opening of an investigation against him on suspicion of incitement to draft evasion and sedition.

"We love the soldiers"

However, today a different tone was heard from Rabbi Yosef:

"We love the soldiers, we love all the people of Israel! But one must know that the Torah goes together with the soldiers — it is impossible without the Torah. People sometimes do not understand this."

Rabbi Yosef continued and blessed those serving: "I take this opportunity to bless all the soldiers: may the Almighty guard their going and their coming, may no evil befall them, and may they all return home healthy and whole and continue to protect the people of Israel. They are messengers of the Almighty to protect the people of Israel."

According to him, his father, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef (of blessed memory), used to say: "If a person sees a soldier, he should kiss him, because he has this merit to guard the people of Israel, he is a messenger of the Almighty. Everything is from Him, blessed be He, everything is from above and everything is thanks to the holy Torah, but they are the messengers."

Rabbi Yosef added: "Therefore, let us bless all the soldiers that they may return home to a good, healthy, and whole life, and that we may already merit that there will be peace and there will be no more of these wars. The Almighty will give strength to the soldiers so that they may win, 'terror and dread shall fall upon them'."

He then sought to connect his position regarding the importance of Torah study with the appreciation for the soldiers: "We care for the soldiers by having Torah, because the Torah guards the soldiers and guards all the people of Israel. Therefore, one must go together, 'the book and the sword' — these two things, both the Torah and the soldiers."