Rav Yitzchak Yosef, the former Rishon LeTzion and nosi of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah of Shas, sharply criticized police conduct toward chareidi protesters during his weekly Motzoei Shabbos shiur at the Yazdim Shul in Yerushalayim, expressing anguish over reports of violence against bnei Torah and linking the treatment of yeshivah students to broader challenges facing Israel.

Addressing those gathered, Rav Yosef spoke emotionally about what he described as police mistreatment of bnei yeshivah, saying it becomes difficult to bring people closer to Torah when such hostility exists.

“It is very difficult to bring close police officers who have such hatred of Israel, who brutally beat bnei Torah, humiliate and degrade them, and tear their pants. It is very difficult to bring them close. It pains us because we want to bring people back to teshuvah. Someone showed me what they are doing, and it hurt me. Why did it hurt me? Because we want to bring them back to teshuvah.”

Rav Yosef said that outreach efforts among secular Israelis are often successful because many are searching for deeper meaning in life.

“We go to secular Jews and speak with them, and they listen. They want to return to teshuvah. They feel emptiness. All day long they pursue the desires of this world—eating, drinking, and all the pleasures of this world. They feel emptiness, and we want to bring them back to teshuvah. But when you see things like this, when people are beaten so severely, what do they want from us?”

Turning to the issue of yeshivah students and military service, Rav Yosef noted that bnei yeshivah had long received exemptions dating back to the era of Israel’s founding, emphasizing the spiritual protection provided by Torah study.

“These are yeshivah students who, from the time of Ben-Gurion, were exempted. They were exempt and engaged in Torah study. The Torah protects us. Did Trump suddenly turn against us for no reason? Why did he turn? Because of the decrees being carried out against bnei Torah. That is why he turned against us.”

The Rishon LeTzion also directed criticism toward Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, whom he referred to as “Jezebel,” suggesting that the policies being implemented against yeshivah students originate from her office.

“Instead of strengthening bnei Torah—what kind of logic is this? Instead of strengthening them, stop making arrests. This woman, the attorney general, this wicked Jezebel, is she the one giving these instructions? These police officers are unfortunate; they are in the category of a tinok shenishbah. What do they know? But it becomes difficult to bring them back to teshuvah. You see the hatred they have, tearing clothing, beating young children, injuring them. It is difficult to witness these things. May Hashem bring them back to teshuvah.”

At the same time, Rav Yosef stressed that his criticism was not directed at all police officers and cautioned against broad generalizations.

“But not all of Klal Yisroel is like that. How many police officers are like this? Not all police are the same. I used to speak frequently to police officers. They would occasionally organize gatherings, and I would come and speak. They listened respectfully. They do not all hate us. There is apparently some group—I do not know—that has been influenced by this Izevel, and they go out and beat yeshivah students. But Klal Yisroel is fundamentally good.”

{Matzav.com}