Chief Sephardic rabbi says yeshiva students saved Israelis in war, not security forces

Chief Sephardic Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef says that Israel survived attacks by terror groups throughout the ongoing war because of yeshiva students and not the work of the security forces.

“Thirteen thousand 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 students and yeshiva students, who sit and learn the Torah,” he says.

He goes on to say that Israelis were saved from attacks in the north, south, and by Hamas terrorists, “only thanks to the members of the yeshivas and their students. They protect all the soldiers and all the nation of Israel,” he adds.

Last month, Yosef sparked a major public backlash when he said that ultra-Orthodox Jews will leave Israel en masse if the government ends the exemptions from mandatory military enlistment enjoyed by the Haredi community.