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This Week

Yosef 's Vision

Shas rabbi says Holocaust victims
were reincarnated "sinners."

NAOMI SEGAL

tainly he would not accuse any of the
Six Million," Rabbi Lau told Israel
Radio. "He tried to give further under-
Jerusalem
standing to what happened there."
he spiritual leader of Israel's
Katsav said he does not intend to go
Shas Party is facing public
into the theological basis of Rabbi
condemnation and ridicule
Yosef's remarks, but said he regrets any
for saying that the 6 mil-
statements that hurt people's feelings.
lion Jews murdered in the Holocaust
The comments were interpreted by
were the reincarnated souls of sinners.
some political observers as an indication
During his weekly sermon on
that Shas is not inclined to rejoin Barak's
Saturday, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef also
government after bolting the coalition
referred to the Palestinians
on the eve of last month's
as "snakes."
failed Camp David summit.
Prime Minister Ehud
Rabbi Yosef's comments
Barak, who was also targeted
19 brought a stinging criticism
in Yosef's remarks, said the
-;" from the head of the secular
statements were not fitting
Shinui Party.
for a rabbi of his standing.
"It's slander from an old
This is not the first time
t fool who is regretfully the
Rabbi Yosef's comments
spiritual leader of a large
have sparked controversy.
community in Israel," said
Last Purim, Rabbi Yosef
Rabbi Ovadia Yos
Yosef "Tommy" Lapid.
likened Yossi Sarid, the
During the weekly Israeli
leader of the secular Meretz Party, to
Cabinet meeting, Barak criticized the
the evil Haman in the Book of Esther,
Shas Party as well as Rabbi Yosef.
and he called on supporters to wish
"From a movement whose banner is
for Sarid's destruction.
emblaioned with the demand for unity
In the latest incident, as in previous
and closeness, its leaders should speak
ones, Shas leaders said the rabbi's
in a manner that would strengthen this
remarks were taken out of context.
claim," Barak said.
"Don't take a monopoly on inter-
Referring to Barak's efforts to reach
pretation of the Holocaust," a Shas
a peace deal with the Palestinians at
legislator told Israel Army Radio.
the Camp David summit, Rabbi Yosef
"The rabbi's commentary was based
said in his Saturday sermon, "Where
on Judaism."
are this man's brains?" Addressing
Barak, the rabbi added, "You bring
snakes
next to us. How can you make
Fuller Explanation
peace
with
a snake?"
For his part, Rabbi Yosef backed off
Calling
the
Arabs "evildoers,"
from his comments on Sunday, saying
Rabbi
Yosef
said
the Talmud teaches
that all the Jewish victims of the Nazis
"that
God
is
sorry
he ever created
"were holy and pure and complete
those
sons
tf
Ishmael."
In the past,
saints." Some Israelis — including
the Shas Party has supported the peace
President Moshe Katsav and Chief
process, maintaining that giving land
Ashkenazi Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau —
to the Palestinians could be justified
said the concept of reincarnation is a
because
it would increase Israel's secu-
theological attempt to understand why
rity
and
therefore
save Jewish lives.
the Holocaust happened.
Rabbi
Yosef's
remarks
also drew
Rabbi Lau, himself a Holocaust
criticisms
from
Palestinian
officials.
survivor, said that perhaps the pain of
Yasser
Abed
Rabbo,
the
Palestinian
the tragedy of the Holocaust is still
information minister, said, "The state-
too acute for comments such as Rabbi
ments of this idiot and racist are a dis-
Yosef's.
grace
for every Israeli." Israeli Arab
He defended the Shas rabbi, saying
Knesset
member Ahmed Tibi said his
Rabbi Yosef has a very "emotional atti-
party
would
ask Israel's attorney gener-
tude" toward the Holocaust.
al
to
consider
pressing charges against
"I did not hear the lesson, but cer-
Rabbi Yosef.

Jewish Telegraphic Agency

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