RABBI DAVID YOSEF: Charedim Should Refrain from Public Purim Celebrations to Avoid Chillul Hashem - VINnews

Source: vinnews.com
Author: Baruch Green

ISRAEL (VINnews) -- Rabbi David Yosef, a leading Sefardi Rav, says that this Purim, due to the war, people should refrain from public celebrations. He said that while people should celebrate privately, public celebrations would convey an appearance that those who are celebrating are not feeling the pain of people who are suffering, and it would thus create a chilul Hashem.

The Arutz Sheva website quoted Rabbi Yosef saying. "We are in a situation where this is a...difficult war against our enemies. Every day, we receive more bitter news about fallen soldiers. The situation is not at all easy.

"I think that this year it is very important that everyone celebrates Purim in their homes and fulfills the mitzvot of Purim. But when it comes to public celebrations we have to be very careful not to show joy and dance in the streets. Be very wary of this."

He added that "the general public sees how the religious people celebrate and are happy on Purim as if Israel's pain didn't touch them - it doesn't look good. It is a desecration of Hashem's name."

Rabbi Yosef pleaded with Roshei Yeshiva and Rabbanim to refrain from public celebration as well, to show a sense of solidarity.

He said, "Therefore, I ask also that the Roshey Yeshiva, the Rabbis, and the entire public do everything possible so that Purim this year keeps a low profile. Don't celebrate in public. Everyone in their own home with their family should eat the Purim seudah, send Mishloach Manot to relatives and friends - but don't show as if what's going on here has nothing to do with us. We are part of the public. We also feel the terrible pain of what's happening to our soldiers, what's happening to the hostages."

He said, "We feel that Hashem is with us in our trouble. It is all of our trouble, we are part of the people who sit in Zion and therefore it is unthinkable that we would celebrate and rejoice as if nothing happened. With Hashem's help...on the one hand, we can really fulfill the mitzvot of Purim and on the other hand, feel that we are part of the people of Israel's great trouble."

Rav David Yosef is the head of the Yechaveh Da'at, the son of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, and brother of Sefardi Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef.

Last week, VIN reported that Rav Shaul Alter, the Gerrer Rosh Yeshiva, said that people should be b'simcha on Purim, because it is not beneficial for people to refrain from celebration. However it is not clear if he meant to include public celebration, or if he was referring to private celebration, but would agree with Rav Yosef that if it is public it can be misconstrued.

In addition, Rav Alter made it clear that it was a personal decision, and that others would likely have a different opinion, and seemed to suggest that there was not a definitive correct answer.