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Don't take any notice of this stupid cantankerous obscene-mouthed old fool. What is really annoying is that he thinks that he is the nominated representative of the Almighty. Who exactly nominated him? It's people like him that fuel the fires of anti-semitism.

The difference is between khilul ha-politician and khilul ha-Sheim. Paqid 16, The Netzarim Israeli Orthodox Jew www.netzarim.co.il

Once upon a time we (the unbelievers) honored the religious. Then they were busy with God and good deeds. Now, when they meddle in politics and very bad deeds they became worthless for religion and shouldn't be honored.

... but for us, religious sephardim, Rav Ovadya is our greatest Possek. If you received some kind of basic judaic education you can understand what a Possek is. Being our greatest Possek does entitle Rav Ovadya to the spiritual and material position he does hold in our community. You insults won't change anything. Be a Mensch, respect the others : "veahavta et reekha kamokha".

Wow mike from the way you write I can almost guess whay you look like Before i start i want to know if you have any hair on your back? "Don't take any notice of this stupid cantankerous obscene-mouthed old fool." One cannot be a leader if he has no followers. Between me and you if he would say something not only would all his followers listen which between america and israel alone are in the millions but his words reach all the way to Australia. His followers listen and those that don't follow him still hear him. Some will pounce on him others will respect what he says even if they don't follow him (like religious ashkenazim) Trust me you can't stop millions upon millions of people to not take notice of someone who is more famous and respected and that has more followers than most leaders of most countries INCLUDING YOUR OWN "What is really annoying is that he thinks that he is the nominated representative of the Almighty. Who exactly nominated him?" You come from a city Rishon Leziyon which is named after sephardic leaders of Israel starting from the early 1800's. Before Israel was created, before seculars thought about coming, at around the 1820's the jewish sefardim living at the time in Israel nominated Rabbis to lead them for torah laws and politically to deal with the Turks during the rule of the Ottoman empire. There was a lot of peace between the both and the rabbi was very respected by the Sultan. This process of rishon leziyon continued through the present time. Rav Ovadia was nominated by the people of Israel like it always has been and yes they turn to him as arepresentative of the Almighty like they did with hius predecessors. Remember before Ben Gurion came along these Rabbis lead and did a fine job because what is greater than living in peace. ben gurion came along and war started and hasn't stopped since. "It's people like him that fuel the fires of anti-semitism." Gentiles throughout history gave much respect to the rabbis. They were always humble towards them and many times rabbis were able to annul decrees that the gentiles decreed on jews. anti semitism from gentiles starts from the rich and prosperous jews. it eats them up when the jews have bigger houses than them or when the jews become senators and movie stars. Why should jews run their countries and dictate how they should live. Halimi was killed because they thought he had a lot of money. They know we are smarter and succeed faster. If anything from the rabbi who lives simple they enjoy and respect. On the other hand anti semitism from jews like yourself starts from the rabbis but thats because you are living one big lie and your too stubborn to admit it. Remember the holocaust started from Germany where the rich and wealthy mostly secular ashkenazim lived not Poland Hungary where the religious lived. HIstory tells

I fink dat wee shud not give awey guish katief but i em onlye 4

From the beginning, you misunderstood that religions are the way of life, not some quaint old fashioned relicts to be kept solely as a decoration but which will not meddle in politics. You needed something Jewish in the country and so, since you had neither a need nor conception of religious feelings, you handed the entire religious establishment to the ultra-Orthodox, while you went on with your life and then you griped occasionally that they inconvenienced you when you had to go to Cyprus to marry. In the past, there were few ultra Orthodox in numbers, hence no political power, just the power that you gave them – that’s right YOU GAVE IT ALL TO THEM. With time, they grew in numbers, asked for, or rather demanded, more and more and there was no counterweight for their extreme religious views, except your own extreme anti-religious views. You shut down all moderate religious influences. And now you act surprised that they don't stick to “God and good deeds" as you have intended for them? This also explains why you have no comprehension about the Arabs those in your midst and those surrounding you, since your rationale has been always secular and theirs has always been religious -- and unlike Judaism, where there are quite a few variants to choose from, Islam comes ONLY ultra Orthodox variants of their religion. You created Ovadia and gave him his bully pulpit.

In the paradise of this old bastard, people have to live for eternity with Abu Steiner and Leftists. Let's go to Hell.

the title of this article is crude and demeaning to women. honor and respect for women are needed---not this insult. help raise us up, not drag us down.

Be a Mensch, respect the others : "veahavta et reekha kamokha". That is very poetical and true, and what most people try, or should try to do, the problem is that here in Israel it is the orthodox, and the ultra-orthodox, both Ashkenazim and Sephardim, who dont respect anyone else but themselves. I am sure that when they start respecting other non orthodox Israelis and Jews, they will receive a lot more respect from the rest of us. In the meantime, I totally agree with Mike!

Im an Orthodox Jew but I can see why we should keep religion and politics far from each other. Religion inspires our values and our outlook, but it cannot dictate everything. In deciding whether we want further disengagement we should be thinking about what best enhances peace and security - not what God may punish us with fire and brimstone for. Shabbat is a fundamental Jewish characteristic but God would not want us to coerce unbelievers into obeying his laws. Once we do that we are no better than the theocracy in Iran. The Jewish tradition is not one of unthinking adherence to any individual or text but rather a constant and dynamic process of questioning everything - like Hillel and Shamai - for the sake of heaven.

"ve ahavta et reekha kamokha" is not poetical, it is a mitzva that every Jew, even the secular, can respect. I understand that you met not perfect religious Jews who did not really respect this mitzva and I am sorry for you and for them. But Liz, you cannot say that respect other people is good and in the same time agree with Mike who is insulting people. They are other respectful ways of disagreeing...

This spiritual leader turned politician and godfather of Shas sure has an axe to grind with those who oppose his world view of intolerance, bigotry and hate. It is a pity that Ovadia Yosef is given the press that he does which fans the flames of hell and brimstone Judaism that is more in keeping with Calvinism that was rife in apartheid South Africa.

You are a putz, not as big as Ovadia, but a big putz nonetheless.

Those who respond sarcastically against Rav Ovadia have a very superficial understanding of what goes on. 1. The Secular media have consistentaly misreported and worse deliberatley misunderstood his comments. 2. Those people who hate Shas and dislike the return to traditions that Shas has suceeded with willing accept anything the Media say against the Rav with pride and joy. 3. Such people are the worst of all as they hide their disgusting prejudice behind media misreporting. 4. The facts, Rav Ovadia is the greatest halachic authority of the last 50 years. He is revered by Sephardim the world over and all Mizrahi Rabbis refer to him on complcated issues. 5. He had had great influence on Israeli life, for example, the prohibition against jews visiting the Temple Mount, The status of Ethopian Jews, Agunot in respect of missing army personal, and even the profusion of Kitniot products for Pesach can all be traced back to the Rav. 6. So please stop making stupid comments against the Rav without studing the matter.

I am sorry I just speak correctly french and hebrew. I have a very basic knowledge of english, spanish and arabic and I don't understand a word of yiddisch. "Putz" is not in my french-english dictionnary. But I guess it must be some kind of american insult. If this is the case and you have nothing better to do, keep insulting people...

A vote for Shas may not take you to heaven. However, a vote for Kadima will certainly help to bring hell on earth to the State of Israel. Olmet's stated policy is to help strengthen Hamas by destroying Jewish towns and villages and giving territory to that terrorist organization. Likud is the only party that is making any sense in this election campaign.