Shas rabbi's son: No afterlife for Federman farm destroyers
Following demolition of extreme rightist's Hebron house that sparked days of riots, threats, Rabbi Yaakov Yosef visits site, says 'anyone who took part in expulsion has no place in the world to come'
Yaakov Yosef, son of Shas' spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, said Tuesday there would be no afterlife for those who took part in the destruction of the Federman home. He spoke during a visit to the Federman farm in the Jewish community of Kiryat Arba.
Violent riots and threats were made against security forces following the evacuation and demolition of the West Bank settlement home some 10 days ago, and since then, settlers have set up temporary structures in place of the buildings that were knocked down.
"Anyone who took part in the expulsion of the Federman family from their home and the destruction of their home – has no place in the afterlife," the visiting rabbi said.
Yosef continued to express his disgust with the demolition and said he wished the Federman family would return and rebuild their home."It is difficult for me to see this; I know that I will be crying for a whole week now. To see the destruction and the atrocity that police caused a Jewish family in the Land of Israel," he added.
The Shas leader's son quoted a Halacha verse calling on soldiers to refuse orders regarding evacuation and demolition. One of the people present during his visitng told the rabbi, "Some officer that took part in the expulsion wore kippot and recited Psalms at the Cave of the Patriarchs."
Yosef in response said, "Their prayers are worthless."
Rabbi Yaakov Yosef is very respected among the haredi and national-religious community, and served in the past as a Shas MK. Yosef currently runs the Hazon Yaakov Yeshiva in Jerusalem.
This is not the first time right-wing activists have made harsh expressions against the Israeli law enforcement system. After the initial evacuation, settlers in the area vowed revenge on Israel Defense Force soldiers.
"We hope they are defeated by their enemies, we hope that they all become (kidnapped soldier) Gilad Shalit, that they are all killed and that they are all slaughtered, because that's what they deserve," one settler told Army Radio.
Such outburst caused a political storm and the government soon after decided to withdraw support from all illegal outposts in the West Bank.
Over the weekend, a cornerstone ceremony was held in the Federman farm. Kiryat Arba Rabbi Dov Lior, chairman of the Committee of Yesha Rabbis, said during the event that "the expulsion forces activity in the Federman farm reminds me of what we went through in Poland dozens of years ago.
"Then too we were expelled from our homes for no reason, only for being Jews. Then too we were not given the option of evacuating our things, taking out personal belongings. Then too they came in the middle of the night and removed us without any compassion."
