Sephardic Chief Rabbi David Yosef Denounces High Court as ‘Enemy of Judaism’ Over Shabbat Ruling

Sephardic Chief Rabbi David Yosef slams the High Court for issuing a protest-related order on Shabbat, alleging a double standard against religious Jews.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 4, 2026, 6:20 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Times of Israel

A Theological and Legal Conflict

Sephardic Chief Rabbi David Yosef has ignited a fierce national debate by labeling the High Court of Justice the "enemy of Judaism." The Rabbi’s remarks were triggered by an interim order issued by a three-judge panel, led by Justice Isaac Amit, which compelled law enforcement to permit and protect anti-government and anti-war protests scheduled for Saturday night. Yosef’s primary grievance centered on the timing of the decision, noting that the judges convened and "walked all over the law" by making a formal ruling during the holy day of Shabbat. He asserted that such an action is fundamentally incompatible with the character of a Jewish state.

Allegations of Selective Civil Liberties

Central to the Chief Rabbi’s critique is the claim of a judicial double standard regarding wartime restrictions. While the Home Front Command has implemented strict limits on public gatherings to mitigate the risk from Iranian and Houthi missile strikes, Yosef argued that the court has carved out special protections for political demonstrations. He contrasted the court’s willingness to facilitate protests with the continued restrictions on religious sites, specifically mentioning that the Western Wall remains largely closed to mass prayer. "None of us even dreamed of petitioning the High Court," Yosef remarked, suggesting that the judiciary is inherently biased against religious interests and would never grant similar concessions to the Orthodox community.

Political Alignment and Institutional Friction

The Chief Rabbi’s comments found immediate support within the ultra-Orthodox political leadership. MK Moshe Gafni, chairman of the Degel HaTorah faction, echoed the sentiment by suggesting that Rabbi Yosef should replace Justice Amit as the President of the High Court. Gafni argued that Yosef possesses a superior understanding of the "sensitivity and complexity" required to rule on issues involving values sacred to the Jewish people. This alignment between the Rabbinate and Haredi lawmakers signals a potential legislative push to further limit the High Court’s oversight of religious and security matters as the war continues.