Against the backdrop of Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef's remarks against Rabbi Dov Lior, a letter written by Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda Kook praising Rabbi Lior has resurfaced.

The letter was published in the book "Krozei Hatzvi," which was compiled by Rabbi Yosef Bedihi, Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda's assistant.

The letter was written when Rabbi Lior was a candidate for the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, and in it, Rabbi Kook expresses support for his candidacy. Along with the support, he describes at length his Torah knowledge, his reverence for G-d, and his work for the Torah, People, and Land of Israel.

"The genius Rabbi Dov Lior, a prince of Torah and pure reverence for G-d, sanctifies the name of G-d with his entire sublime character and all his actions for all of Israel and the holy Torah and Holy Land," Rabbi Kook wrote.

He continues by mentioning the period when Rabbi Lior served as rabbi of Kfar Haroeh, a village named after Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda's father, Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook. "He was the rabbi of the holy congregation which is named after my father of blessed memory, Kfar Haroeh," he wrote.

Rabbi Kook continued praising Rabbi Lior's activies during that time: "He continued to grow in his Torah study and the loveliness of his sublime personality, and increased his activities and belovedness to all his surroundings, to increase Torah and to exalt it, and to increase love for it."

Later in the letter, Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda expressed his support for Rabbi Lior’s appointment to the Jerusalem rabbinate, writing in celebratory language: “He comes to the exalted rabbinate of Jerusalem, our holy and glorious city, with the blessing of the L-rd, blessed be He, ‘who chooses Jerusalem’ and ‘who chooses His people Israel with love’ and gives him His Torah, with the blessing of His peace and the strength of His might."

Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda addressed both the electoral body and Rabbi Lior himself: “May light, salvation and joy continue to shine upon the entire body of voters and upon our cherished and glorious chosen one."

He concluded with a call to work for Rabbi Lior’s election, “as our Sages taught, to establish and strengthen it with the assistance of Heaven," and expressed hope for redemption: “In anticipation of the complete fulfillment of our salvation, with a sincere blessing from all my heart and soul."

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef sharply attacked Rabbi Dov Lior during remarks on Saturday night in which he addressed visits to the Temple Mount. According to him, many leading Torah scholars opposed ascending the Mount.

“All the leading rabbis of the generation said not to enter the Temple Mount. What chutzpah," Rabbi Yosef said, adding that he had spoken several times about Ben-Gvir ascending the Temple Mount.

He then referred to Ben-Gvir and his rabbi, Rabbi Dov Lior, saying: “What authority does your rabbi have? What rabbi does he have? His rabbi is from Hebron. I know his books. He does not come up to the ankles of any of the rabbis I mentioned, with all due respect."