During his weekly lesson towards the end of Saturday, Chief Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef stated that miracles happening in Israel during wartime are attributed to the presence of yeshiva students.
"13,000 missiles were lobbed at our country; thank God for the miracles and wonders we had. Thanks to what? Thanks to the IDF chief of staff? Thanks to whom? Thanks to the Torah and yeshiva students, who sit and study the Torah," the Chief Rabbi said.
Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef also reiterated remarks he made a month ago that ultra-Orthodox Jews would leave Israel if forced to serve in the army. He accused heads of hesder yeshivas, which combine religious studies with military service, of attacks and reiterated that he does not back down from his position.
"Who saved us when enemies attacked from the south and the north? Only the students of yeshivas" he said.
Earlier, Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef blamed secular society for not understanding the contribution of yeshivas to the army's success and likened ultra-Orthodox Jews to the Tribe of Levi, which was engaged in worship and exempted from military service.
