The family of Rav Aryeh Yazdi says he has no intention of apologizing for or retracting the controversial remarks he made about IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir during Monday night’s protest rally in Bnei Brak, despite widespread condemnation from political and rabbinic leaders.

In comments to Israeli media, the rav’s wife and family defended his statements while acknowledging the public backlash. According to his wife, “The rav does not intend to apologize.”

The controversy erupted after Rav Yazdi referred to Zamir during the rally as, “Cursed, may his name and memory be erased.” The remarks drew sharp criticism from across the political spectrum, including from Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu, the Shas party, and senior Shas leader Rav Moshe Maya.

Rav Yazdi’s eldest son, Rav Yehuda Yazdi, said his father’s words stemmed from deep personal anguish rather than hostility.

“My father lives entirely within the four cubits of halachah. He has no interest in the media. When he heard about a chareidi soldier who was placed in solitary confinement because of a ‘Moshiach’ patch, his heart simply broke.”

He insisted that the comments were motivated by concern over the treatment of bnei Torah and chareidi soldiers rather than politics or personal animosity.

“He cannot stand by when he hears what is happening to lomdei Torah and chareidi soldiers. My father has brought dozens of people closer to their Father in Heaven. He does not act out of hatred.”

Rav Yazdi himself said that his remarks had been a “slip of the tongue.” However, responding to the condemnations issued by the prime minister and Shas, he added, “They have done nothing for the bnei Torah.”

Seeking to ease tensions with Shas, Rav Yehuda Yazdi emphasized the family’s respect for the party’s leadership.

“We respect the representatives of Shas. If they have objections, they are welcome to speak with my father. The appearance that has been created is terrible.”

He also expressed confidence that his father’s longstanding friendship with the former Rishon LeTzion, Rav Yitzchak Yosef, would endure despite the controversy. Meanwhile, Rav Moshe Maya issued a public statement stressing, “This is not the way of the Torah to speak in such a manner.”

Sources close to Rav Yazdi said that he does not grant media interviews and said his speech at the rally had been delivered only after consultation with, and with the approval of, rabbanim.

“The remarks delivered at the rally were made after consultation and with the agreement of rabbanim. As a talmid of Maran Rav Shalom Cohen zt”l and Rav Shimon Baadani zt”l, he was asked to convey the message.”

Addressing reports about government funding received by his institutions, Rav Yehuda Yazdi rejected claims that his father personally benefits from significant public support.

“Contrary to the misleading reports, my father receives only about 600 shekels from the state for the kollel. The budgets that were publicized belong to the entire nonprofit organization, which operates many institutions, and not to my father’s institution.”

He concluded with a message of unity, saying, “The Jewish people need to love one another.”

His mother, however, made the family’s position unmistakably clear, declaring, “The rav will never retract the things he said.”

As previously reported, Shas issued an official statement condemning the remarks, saying the extreme comments “do not reflect the views of our rabbanim of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah” and are “contrary to the path of the Shas movement, which was bequeathed to us by Maran Rabbeinu Ovadia Yosef zy”a.”

{Matzav.com}