You say, "It is an age old jewish concept, when bad things happen, it is time for self reflection and self improvement...." You are absolutely right! When bad things have happened to me for my many moral failings, I engage in self-reflection. I can certainly improve on my Sabbath observance but when bad things have happened to me, it wasn't for my lack of exact Sabbath observance. Now we have Shas - an Orthodox Jewish religious party in Israel that advocates the surrender of our God-given land to Israel's enemies - and you say as a haredi rabbi he thinks Sabbath desecration is a major problem. Only he does not think twice about breaking our eternal covenant with God Almighty? The rabbi does not think twice about making anti-Torah covenants with our enemies like the murderous Oslo accords and other wicked covenants? He does not think expelling Jews from our land is a grave sin in the eyes of God? Where, I ask you Yerushalmi, are our priorities?

for his lack of compassion in such a time. How sick can you get. One is allowed to break the Sabbath for the sake of saving a life.

If you read the Israeli news, every single jackass has an opinion, blaming ..Bibi, Yishai, the zionists, the capitalist , the government, the local arabs etc. So why cant this rabbi have a fair shot at this stupid blame game?

...for that poor woman's cancer -- the one who doesn't want surgery. The sooner this guy has a meet-up with his Christian parallel, Jerry Fawell, the better!

Whatever caused the fire, whether it was the negligence of two teenagers or even arson, was one thing. The loss of life and the ensuing tragedy is the result of the greed and selfishness of Shas' chief minion, Minister Eli Yishai, and his party colleagues! We all know that he does make decisons but bows are scrapes to the Shas "Pope", Ovadia Joseph. Of course, Prime Minister Netanyahu must also be called to account. Yes, over the years the Governments of Israel neglected the North of the Country and channeled billions into the "Territories". Netanyahu, like others is guilty of allowing the Ultra Orthodox Parties, particularly Shas, to extort money from the from the Treasury which gives them what they want at the expense of the safety of the people of the country. He must answer the questions as to who runs the country: The PM, Shas or the Treasury? Our politicians, 5 minutes after the election results are published, forget that they are responsible to the people of Israel and being an MK is not a license to feather the own nests! The Government must resign and new elections be held. Also those who failed to safeguard the lives our our people must be held responsible for the deaths caused by their greed exploitation of power and be prosecuted to the full extent of the law! An even better solution would be ban any existing politician from re-election to the Knesset, as a whole, is to blame for the miserable state of our emergency services and the tragedy which claimed so many lives.

Well, why whitewash something? He looks, talks and behaves like an asshole - therefore he must be one. Decent compassionate Israelis are grieving with these families now - a mother lost her only son, a 16 year old who went to help his fellow countrymen, and, together with all the others that died, it rocks a nation to its very soul and to come out with something as perverted as he did, shows he is nothing but the most destructive form of bacteria in this country. Our only saving grace, is that he’s in God’s waiting room.

we find a proliferation of anti Jewish websites and online hatred toward Jews, no one should be surprised. They are taking their cue from Ynet and its TBers. And don't claim that "we have a good reason" (for hating them). 70 years ago, a certain major European country claimed the same thing . . . .

first bibi was a real leader by asking help from others countries no shame but leadership.second sorry for the peoples of the north third rav ovadia say it is a sign for good ,he could be right but this sign was a good sign for israel a waiking sign to prepare to organize the fire dpt for the next misille attack from our neigbors we dont needed to point fingers ,we needed no waste of time to organize the fire dpt and to be ready .god bless israel

And as Rabbi Ovadia Yosef and his band of useless followers sit there studying Torah and living off the backs of productive working Israeli's the rest of the country can burn down around him. Instead of inciting hate, maybe he can cover his precious keepah a minute and help save the Carmel.

Have the Israeli authorities arrested two young Druze boys? Will Rabbi Yosef testify on their behalf that they had nothing to do with it?

of Talula s talent(she is very talented,it is a shame she does not use it better) you don t give her honour.I think the same of your great talent.

If we do not change our ways?The easiest thing is to put the fault on somebody else.We are all responsible,as we have the leaders that we deserve.

To say not to rent to Arabs?? It's silly either way - that this happened because we don't keep Shabbat or because of the rabbi that said not to rent to Arabs. We cannot know what G-d is thinking!

I dont think so, and what about the lifes of the animals and plants, have they also to keep shabat??

that Rav Ovadia was expressing grief and anguish over the deaths and the destruction. After that, all he did was cite a Talmudic statement about Sabbath desecration. Isn't that what a rabbi is supposed to do? Is he not permitted to express himself in his own lecture to his disciples and listeners? Someone who doesn't like it can ignore it. Are only leftist professors and "intellectuals" allowed to spout their anti-Israel, anti-Jewish invective -- at taxpayers' expense -- and no may dare question or criticize them? You think Rav Ovadia sounds bad? You have no idea how your filthy, despicable remarks about him made you look!

And there are still people who don't understand why so many Israelis have no use for religion?

LOL! This guy is my best ally. Whenever I want to point out that Israel is governed by nutters I just come to ynetnews and dig out one of the good Rabbi's gems. The fact that Rabbi Yosef is the spiritual head of the Shas Party is the best ammunition I could have.

Can at least 2 or 3 real Jews post something here please. All these people posting are a bunch of heretics. You all "believe in G-d" when it doesn't cost you anything, when its convenient, and when He doesn't get in your way. Its amazing that whenever someone is told that they might just not be behaving in the best way possible, everyone goes crazy and just calls a huge Talmid Chacham names. Enough with all the stupid excuses. For once, just take some responsibility!! You guys are all a bunch of babies. (I am speaking to myself as well) Just take one serious look at yourselves and see that you are not perfect and there is a lot to work on. I know it feels good to just sooth your conscience and call this Rabbi names and thereby throw all responsibility away, but c'mon. Lets grow up already and take at look at how we live and see - Is this really how G-d wants us to live our lives. Geeze, you people are a bunch of babies!!! You should all be ashamed of yourselves. Grow up!!

Anyone that does not condemn this mentally retarded man's recent diatribe - is just as bad as he is. And, about my talent? Don't worry deary, I put it to work everyday...even on Shabbat.

Shame on you Rabbi Ovadia. Blaming the fire on the public for "not observing the Sabbath." Who told you that? God? A little bird? How dare you dance on the graves of noble people who died a horrible death, to the tune of the wails of their grief-stricken families. All in order to unload your misguided, hallucinatory, witch-doctor nonsense. You deserve no respect for implying this, and I wish people in Israel would have the guts to put you in your place, like a hate-monger...without enjoying the public's misguided "respect" they accord you. Let's see an end to silly hocus pocus, stoneage beliefs and let us stop granting immunity to "revered" leaders like you. You're just an Ayatollah with a kippa...

I read these talkbacks and cant believe what I am reading. The hate and venom that is coming out of these peoples mouths is shocking. They are critisizing this rabbi for what he said? Are they listening to themselves? Are they so totally immersed in there hate that they cant even see that they are no better then what they are condeming and they are condeming an entire people. Do they actually believe that all the ails of Israel are the fault of charedim. This is a joke? They cant stand religion because they believe these people are all the terrible things they said and are busy telling us in the same breath that they are condeming the rabbi for expressing his outrageous statements. We all better start looking inward. This hate is frightening, sad and pathetic. This is what is going to bring Israel down not some chareidim not working . Give us all a break and get a life. It is such a foreign concept to live and feel such hate for people . I cant even comprehend such a thing. Time to really do something about it before it takes you over and you will be, and sound even bitterer then you do already. Lets focus on helping eachother out and caring for eachother during this time instead of sewing more threads of hatred.

are the reason a wedge is being driven between portions of our society. Remove him and the likes that promulgate Jew hatred at Haaretz and Israel and Judaism will be the better for it

the matter of fire and Shabbat, is the source for CHANUKAH. You are being rather selective about which Talmudic dicta you choose to believe in.... Just keep in mind who the Hasmoneasans fought against.

You wrote that we "believe in G-d" when it does not cost us anything. Yes I believe in God. So let me ask you to address my post above, #61: "Yerushalmi, Jerusalem (Questions)." Please answer my questions to Yerushalmi and then perhaps we can have a discussion about God Chaim, one God-fearing Jew with another God-fearing Jew. I hope you want to discuss this Chaim rather than simply ask (rhetorically) if there are any Jews around.

The magnitude of the fire was caused by the dry conditions; lack of rain. The Shema states explicitly what to do if you want rain. Instead, we offered Him a stunt. Instead of humans pleading for haSheim to serve YOU with rain, perhaps you'd be better advised, as humans, to serve HIM--according to His Torah. You'd achieve better results than hot air balloon stunts. Sequence and proximity don't logically imply cause. Nevertheless, it would be foolish to ignore the possibility. Do we need nine more plagues or have we wised up since 2.5 millennia ago? (It doesn't appear to me that we're one bit wiser. But we can hope.) Paqid Yirmeyahu Paqid 16, The Netzarim, Ra'anana, Israel Israeli Torah-reverer & Orthodox Jew: Teimani, Baladi, Dor Dai Advocate for Logic as Hermeneutic Halakhic Authority www.netzarim.co.il Welcoming all who choose to keep Torah

Unless we change the electoral system to one where the politicians are directly elected and thus live in fear that they might be thrown out in a forthcoming election, nothing will change. The Israeli voter has a very short memory and the politicians use this to the fullest extent.

honour than i deserve.