Chief Sephardic Rabbi David Yosef speaks during a swearing in ceremony for new judges in the Rabbinical Court, held at the President's residence in Jerusalem on June 10, 2025. (Photo by Arie Leib Abrams/Flash90)
Israeli President Herzog stressed the urgent need for spiritual and practical action.
By JNS
Israel’s Sephardic Chief Rabbi David Yosef announced on Tuesday that a national day of fasting in prayer for the hostages in the Gaza Strip would be announced “in the coming days.”
The announcement came in response to a call for such a move by Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
At the swearing-in of 28 new rabbinical judges at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem on Tuesday, Herzog stressed the urgent need for spiritual and practical action, noting the “unrelenting stream of questions flowing from the battlefield” and the responsibility of rabbis to serve all segments of society.
“Do everything in your power—first and foremost, to declare a general day of fasting and prayer for our brothers and sisters held by murderers,” he said.
Terrorists in Gaza currently hold 55 hostages—both alive and deceased—54 of the 251 kidnapped during the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre, and the remains of IDF Lt. Hadar Goldin, killed in action in the Strip in 2014.
After France joined UK-led sanctions regime against Israeli towns in Judea and Samaria, Jerusalem mulls…
New questions have emerged over a report claiming the UAE warned Israel about Hamas shortly…
The UK chief rabbi accused Britain’s policies toward Israel of fueling an increasingly hostile environment…
Six Portuguese comedians drop out of Lisbon comedy festival in protest of Jerry Seinfeld's public…
Court rejects petition calling to freeze the issuing of tenders for the E1 project east…
President Trump was informed ahead of time of Britain's plans to impose new sanctions on…