The Rishon Letzion and Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rav Dovid Yosef, issued an emotional appeal during his weekly shiur on Friday night, calling on both Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog to publicly join President Donald Trump’s recent call encouraging observance and respect for Shabbos.

The chief rabbi’s remarks came in response to a White House proclamation released this week marking Jewish American Heritage Month 2026 and America’s 250th anniversary. In the statement, Trump expressed admiration for Judaism and encouraged Americans to honor Shabbos and use the day as a time for rest and reflection.

During his address, Rav Yosef connected the White House declaration to the upcoming Shabbos of Parshas Bamidbar, commonly referred to as “Shabbos Kallah” because it precedes the Yom Tov of Matan Torah on Shavuos.

The Chief Rabbi also cited the well-known teaching of Chazal that the Jewish people will merit redemption through the observance of two Shabbosos.

“I first of all expect and call upon the president of the state and the prime minister of the Jewish state to join the call of the president of the United States, at the very least here in Eretz Yisroel,” the chief rabbi said.

Rav Yosef also appealed to Jews around the world to unite in observing the upcoming “Shabbos Kallah.”

“How important it is that we all unite around Shabbos Kodesh. If a non-Jewish person so greatly respects our religion and even calls upon non-Jews to rest on Shabbos, then all the more so we Jews, who have the Torah, who have our tradition, and who possess this precious gift called Shabbos Kodesh. How important it is that everyone unite around shemiras Shabbos, and through this we should merit the complete redemption bemeheirah.”