Rav Avraham Yosef delivered a scathing criticism of Israel’s judicial system and government on Friday following the disqualification of thousands of bnei Torah from the government’s subsidized housing lottery, declaring that the decisions reflect a system devoid of compassion and justice.

Speaking on Kol Chai’s Shamor V’Zachor program, Rav Yosef responded to a caller who introduced herself as the daughter of a family that has performed military reserve duty. She explained that although her family participated in the government’s discounted housing lottery and needs the financial assistance to purchase a home, they are deeply pained by the exclusion of approximately 2,600 bnei Torah from the program and feel compelled to protest the decision.

Rav Yosef prefaced his remarks by saying the issue was one of worldview rather than halachah, before sharply criticizing the state’s treatment of the Torah community.

“The fact that there has been wickedness in our country is something that has been going on for 78 years. This didn’t begin yesterday. Seventy-eight years is the numerical value of the word ‘salt.’ They are rubbing salt into our wounds.”

He went on to condemn Israel’s judicial system, saying the country is being governed irrationally, a description he attributed to remarks previously made by Israel’s first Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi, Rav Yitzchak Isaac Halevi Herzog, regarding a legal system that is disconnected from Torah principles.

“Unfortunately, only now are people beginning to realize that all of the judges, without exception, are cruel. They are inhumane. They are far removed from administering fair justice,” he said.

Rav Yosef further charged that there is “the clearest and most malicious selective enforcement,” but added that the chareidi community has no practical political solution to the situation.

“If we still haven’t understood that we are in exile, they are making it very clear to us,” he said.

Turning to politics, Rav Yosef urged listeners not to place their trust in elected officials.

“I don’t place my hopes in politicians, because the hearts of kings and ministers are in Hashem’s hands. Deri has no wisdom, Gafni has no wisdom—there is only the guidance of the Holy One, Blessed is He. Even Bibi is led like a puppet by Hakadosh Boruch Hu.”

He concluded by emphasizing that a Jew’s confidence must rest solely in Hashem.

“Only in Hashem do we place our trust. We rely only on the Creator, and if the Creator has decreed that we must suffer in this way, then we have no choice—we will endure it. What else can we do? Hashem will help us.”

When the caller asked whether a meaningful response would be to adopt and financially assist an avreich‘s family that had been affected by the ruling, Rav Yosef endorsed the idea.

“May you be blessed, yes. Through positive action, do whatever you can.”

At the same time, he rejected proposals to protest by voluntarily giving up eligibility for the housing program or making public declarations.

“Complaining, grumbling, and talking will not help. The protest that the caller suggested is not the correct approach. That is not Judaism. There is no obligation to protest.”

{Matzav.com}