..died also. Does this make you belive that G-d doesnt care, that the religious Jews were closet criminals, or that the Rabbis have cause good men to sin by giving them magic and het additions to Torah? The Neveem stated the last one as true about the Kohen Gadol and the San Hedrin (70 men of temple). Is this the basis for the Rabbinical tradition?

He seems to be saying that those who perform the mitzvot are less likely to be harmed and have bad fall upon them then those who don't and he prays that they should all return to the relegious fold. What exactly is wrong in saying this?

Before all of you spout your usual Anti Ovadia rubbish - consider what he actually said and its meaning. 1. He is saying that if you observe the mitzvot you are less likely to be harmed and have bad things happen to you. Please explain to me what is wrong in saying that? 2. What he is not saying, is that if you keep all the mitzvot you will not be harmed and have bad things happen to you. Hence yes bad things do happen to those who keep the mitzvot. In Kabbala that may be explained as completing ones tikun for errors from an earlier gigul. 3. He wishes they become religious and have a good life and peace. An absolutely wonderful blessing, and what is wrong is saying this? 4. Most of the responses to date show the vile and ignorant Prejudice of the media and some of the public against the Rav .

I am an ordained orthodox rabbi I have been the spiritual leader of a Chasidic orthodox community in excess of 35 years. If what I read in this article is true and the admonition has been accurately quoted, this person is either senile or so full of himself that he totally forgot a basic element of Judaism, ONE according to the Rambam who codified the first compilation of Judaic Law in writing rules on who shall be considered as a person that Died Al Kidush Hashem is any person that was killed because he was Jewish, that persons history is totally immaterial to detract from his lofty statues that we seek G-Ds forgiveness in memory of their holiness, TWO again quoting the Rambam (he was a Saphrdi Rabbi) there is no soul that is not totally forgiven by G-D ALL his earthly sins (except one) even murder is forgiven , so to state that the performance or the lack of performance is a criteria of G-Ds care and protection is the same theory as an African Shama (witch doctor) that concocted a gooie past and told all his warriors that if the would smear that goo on their bodies they will be protected from any bullets, spears, arrows, used against them. This stupidity has been proven wrong in every Jewish Generation, to use the announcements made before entering and closing with the enemy as proof that only torah observing Jews can expect G-Ds protection just proves that such a person does not know how to learn even the Basic Torah. I only hope that such divisive drivel was not uttered by any person that is considered as a learned Rabbi, it is contrary to this time of yea,r that we seek from G-D his blessings and such blessings are unavailable in a divisive society.

If true he is an idiot no matter how learned he may seem but even stupid may have knowledge. to say such stupidity can only be understood in the context of a talmudic saying "a person sins when a stupid spirit enters his mind. eleborate clothing does not make a person holy, to see who is truly holy is a person that protects others at his peril.

How do you want people to identify themselves with such an individual...I'm disgust and I understand better why i barely set a foot in a synagogue in Israel...

was postponed for many hours in order not to desacrate the Shabat. And those leaders were seculars!!! They were seculars,but were Jews! Today ,everything is made in Shabat. The men who rule this country just don't care. Therefore the Rabbi is RIGHT! It will get worse and worse,unfortunately! PS:I just disagree Religious not to go to the Army.I think they should go,but should disobey orders when the orders are against Israel,its People and its Principles!Otherwise ,I think ,if they live here they must fight as anyother Jew.(and the injust facilties of the arabs not going to the Army must be fixed somehow.It is even unfair to have arabs representatives in the Knesst if the parcel they represent do not accomplish the most important duty in Israel)

"...Religion poisons everything" Enough said!

Ovadia says: They deserve the heat because of what they did when we had Solomon's Temple.

The words from the man with the shades and the funny looking hat could be those of any Islamic cleric. Same causes always produce same effects. Is there ANY difference between a Jewish Cleric who claims to be on a mission from God and an Islamic Cleric claiming God has given him a mission ? Soldiers were killed for a lot of reasons.....including obeying orders coming from a derelict military organisation holding poor military intelligence. Poor military intelligence was due to inadequate budget spendings and lack of foreseing from the military establishment. The military establishment was more interested in reaching the best office space in the Kiriat rather than delivering what it was globally paid for. God does not kill when people do not follow mitzvot. God gave us the choice to exercize our own choice. Ovadia is a long known moron.

Sorry, people, but it looks to me that Rav Ovadia has been taken over by a demon, and his purpose on the planet has become to set Jew against Jew and further weaken Am Yisrael. He obviousely is not going to keep his mouth shut, so we should see him for what he is and IGNORE his dangerous and corrosive comments.

There is all the usual Anti Ovadia rubbish being spouted on these talkbacks by those who don't understand or don't want to understand what he said. Let us consider his comments. What the Rav did and did not say and what he meant. 1. He is saying that if you observe the mitzvot you are less likely to be harmed and have bad things happen to you. Please explain to me what is wrong in saying that? 2. What he is not saying, is that if you keep all the mitzvot you will not be harmed and not have bad things happen to you. Hence yes bad things do happen to those who keep the mitzvot. In Kabbala that may be explained as completing ones tikun for errors from an earlier gigul. 3. He wishes they the non religious become religious and have a good life and peace. An absolutely wonderful blessing, and what is wrong is saying this? 4. Most of the responses to date show an unbelievable level and Prejudice against the Rav by some of the media and the public who are being mislead by false headlines.

Why don't you and all your friends become more torah observant, try to focus on pure religion (from the haredi school of thought IMHO), and bring most of jewish isreali society along with you, especially the leadership. Then you,ll have a before and after control experiment scenario, to see if increased observance reduces conflict with your neighbours and saves lives or not. And what do you have to loose?! No one is asking you to be a muslim!! Simply to deepen your identification with YOUR own heritage, to get to know your self more. Its a win-win!! Yalla!!

IF YOU ARE: YOU WOULD NOT COMMENT PUBLICLY, you would speak to *BOTH* PARTIES **FIRST**before rendering a opinion / decision. You would not make it publically. You would speak to the parties involved to make teshuvah You would not use such words insulting the person privately or publically. when you have and are recognized as a world posek when the world quotes your lessons, when ynet writes an article about you just then maybe i would consider your comments with any credibility. This is ELUL. Is this how you advice your congregation to introspection and repentence during this month of ELUL ?

It just goes to prove that not only can the Knesset members talk drival so can our religious leaders. SAD.

Someone asked about Messiah, I am here it is just that I have too many Donkeys (Asses) to choose from.

One of the stupidest things you have ever said. Please Toto good night dear.

Oh he should become a Knesset member too? The whole lot are a farce.

HOW ABOUT THE RABBI BRIGADE!!

Please be wary on jumping to attack the revered Rabbi Yoseff. I have seen many times how his statements were taken out of context so that the media can have their beloved field days on him. The Torah (in our recent parasha Shoftim) orders us to conduct a thorough investigation before we judge our brothers. Given the leadership and reputation as a Torah genius that Rabbi Ovadia carries, I believe it would be wise to hold back criticism before all evidence is brought to light. My question though is regarding the connection between doing G-d's will and survival in battle. I've recently been reading the book of Joshua and in it, if I remember correctly, Joshua feels horrible that although he won his first battle, he lost 30 some odd men. Ordinarily this would seem to be a low number considering the circumstances, but the commentaries teach us that Joshua took even one death to mean that his (or the congregation's) service to G-d was not perfect and complete, for if it was then not even one soldier would perish. Is this not the essence of what Rabbi Ovadia is saying? Is it not true that the Torah promises that if we are perfect in serving Hashem, then He will physically protect us from all our enemies? Keep in mind, I'm not commenting on the appropriateness, sensitivity, or political correctness of Rabbi Yoseff's comments. Its too early to judge since I didn't hear his full lecture. I'm just wondering if the thoughts he manifested were essentially wrong or in line with a Torah prospective.

The soldiers died because idiots lead them into war. Ronald Reagan said the best defence is no offense.

Nice to know that we seem to have the same god. How does this man explain those 6 million people who died through no fault of their own under the most atrocious circumstances? They didn't pray enough or keep the Sabbath or what? Does this rabbi not realize how, by demoralizing the very people who have kept him alive and ccontinue to do so, he's helping the crazy bunch who is trying to do him in ? I just don't get this sort of thing. He must be related to our Rev. Phelps. He's the nutjob who boycotts military funerals and praises god for IED's(Improvised Explosive Devices), because we're a nation of homosexuals. And that's putting it nicely compared to his lingo.

to smear his reputation and the reputation of the whole religious population. it is a fact that the merit of mitzvot is what helps us during war and the merit of the jewish people helps us superceed the nature. "lo bikoach vilo bichayil ki im biruchi" rabbi yosef is not a simplistic person and does not make such statements unless it is in a larger context and is meant to awaken us to our responsibilities as jews. lets all just wake up!! stop the infighting and putting down the religious

To settle and work the Land of Israel is one of the commandments. I have been doing this diligently for almost sixty years. To preempt and kill those who are intent on killing you is also a commandment. I have been doing this diligently for forty years. I wish all the black costumed bearded Jews would do the same. Rabbi Yosef is not worthy of the title Rabbi.

I am sure that Hezbollah quaked with fear at the thought of Rabbi Yosef's followers throwing their Torahs at them as they launched missiles at Israel. This old man's time would be better spent studying and saving his ridiculous opinions for those that actually believe that drivel.

This is because he doesn't have a mind or brain of his own and so he follows a warped minded rabbi and stands behinds his beliefs instead of trying to think for himself. Stay in NY, we don't need sickos like you.

THIS INSULTING AND GROSS OLD GOAT NEEDS TO BE SENT TO A MENTAL INSTITUTION. SOLDIERS, RELIGIOUS OR SECULAR GET KILLED IN WARS, THE ENEMY BIS SHOOTING TOMATOES NOT BANANAS. BUT NO HAREDIM GET KILLED BECAUSE THEY HIDE IN YESHIVOT AND BEHING THEIR WORKING WIVES, DO NOT DO ANYTHING FOR THEIR COUNTRY, ACTUALLY THEY SHOULD ALL MOVE TO BROOKLYN (MAYBE THEY WILL START WORKING THERE AS IN THE USA THERE ARE NO FREE LUNCHES. OVADIA JOSEPH, YOU ARE NOT A RABBI, NOT A TEACHER, NOT AN EDUCATOR, YOU SHOULD SHUT UP. ELI ISHAI DO US ALL A FAVOR, AND ADVISE OVADIA TO KEEP QUIET. YOU MANAGED TO INSULT ALL SOLDIERS IN THE IDF.

HE HE JUST HAD THE ZEKHUYOTH AND THE DEREKH ERETS OF QEDOSHIM LIKE KLEIN AND MERCHAVIA, HE WOULD HAVE NOT EVEN DREAMT OF SAYTING SUCH SHTUYOTH! HOWEVER, CONSIDERING THAT HE IS SOMEONE WHO PROMISED GOOD TO ISRAEL IF WE GAVE LAND TO NOKHRIM AND ONLY DEATH AND MAIMING CAME (THAT IS A NAVI SHEQER: PROMISES GOOD AND BAD COMES!!), NO SURPRISE THAT HIS FALSE TORAH HAS NO DEREKH ERETS IN IT!

Our soldiers died in Lebanon because they went to fight in order to pretect you, Rabbid Yossef, and you followers, so that you can continue to live in security your parassitic life