High Court to Hear Shas Petition Over Postponed Rabbi Ovadia Yosef Memorial Conference
The High Court of Justice will hear a Shas petition against the postponement of a state-funded memorial conference for Rabbi Ovadia Yosef until after the October 27 elections, following an Attorney General ruling.
The High Court of Justice is set to convene this morning at 9:00 AM to hear a petition filed by Shas against the postponement of a state-funded memorial conference for the late Rabbi Ovadia Yosef until after the elections. The legal challenge follows a decision by Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, who ruled that the government-funded event cannot take place before the October 27 elections due to concerns over election propaganda violations.
The Attorney General clarified to the Ministry of Religious Services that there is no restriction on holding state memorial ceremonies and remembrance services for Rabbi Ovadia Yosef on their scheduled dates, and that no sweeping ban on commemorations was issued. The restriction applies specifically to an academic and cultural conference that the ministry sought to finance with state funds between October 6 and 17.
According to the legal counsel, the contested conference includes experiential content and multimedia exhibits, and is expected to receive extensive media coverage. Given its close proximity to the elections, it was determined that state funding could only be allocated after the vote. Other non-state-funded commemorative events are permitted to proceed beforehand.
In a response sent to Ministry of Religious Services Director-General Yehuda Avidan, it was emphasized that the public importance of honoring Rabbi Ovadia Yosef is undisputed, and any claims of undermining his dignity are baseless. The decision to delay the conference aims to balance proper remembrance with electoral fairness.
The ruling drew sharp criticism from Shas. Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, the son of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef and the party's spiritual leader, attacked the Attorney General over the delay. Conversely, the late rabbi's daughters, Adina Bar-Shalom and Rivka Chikotai, backed the decision, clarifying that it does not cancel the memorial itself but prevents state financing for an event that risks turning into an election rally.
