Yitzhak Yosef condoled the families of the five soldiers killed in Gaza's Beit Hanun in an open letter, calling for increased Torah study, implicitly denouncing haredi draft attempts.
The death of five soldiers, four of whom were from the IDF's Netzah Yehuda Battalion, in Beit Hanun on Tuesday was caused by a "neglect of Torah study," the previous Sephardic chief rabbi of Israel, Yitzhak Yosef, wrote in an open letter.
"We are to blame," Yosef wrote, adding a claim that "weakness in Torah study leads to disasters, such as the terrible tragedy of the soldiers' deaths in battle."
"To the precious Torah scholars of the yeshivas, may God bless them. I come here with an urgent call to strengthen and be strengthened in Torah study, especially in these days, the end of summer, when there is concern for laxity," Yosef wrote.
Many yeshivas take a summer break referred to as Bein Hazmanim (literally, between the times), when official studies are suspended and students typically leave the yeshiva setting.
"We received with great sorrow the bad news about the fall of the precious soldiers, may their memory be for a blessing, who gave their lives for the people of Israel. Our responsibility as Torah Jews is immeasurable," Yosef continued.
A soldier from the primarily Orthodox and haredi (ultra-Orthodox) Netzah Yehuda Battalion during a swearing-in ceremony at the Western Wall, Jerusalem, June 11, 2025. (credit: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
Yosef also called for "soul-searching," and sent his condolences to the families of the five fallen soldiers.
Notably, Netzah Yehuda is a battalion comprised primarily of Orthodox and haredi (ultra-Orthodox) men who choose to complete their military service in an environment that is predominantly among their peers.
Yosef served as Sephardic chief rabbi of Israel, also known by the honorific Rishon LeZion (The first to Zion), from 2013 until June 2024. He is the sixth son of Ovadia Yosef, the founding spiritual leader of the Shas political party, who was born in Baghdad and also served as Sephardic chief rabbi from 1973 to 1983.
Yitzhak Yosef succeeded his father as spiritual leader of Shas upon his father's death in 2013.
Additionally, he was succeeded as Sephardic chief rabbi by his younger brother, David Yosef, who currently holds the role.
The army began summoning all 54,000 remaining eligible haredim for IDF service on Sunday, launching the largest-ever coordinated mass recruitment effort in that sector, a campaign that will continue through July.
Police open investigation into journalist who expressed joy at death of IDF soldiersA journalist is being investigated by Israel Police for expressing joy over the death of the five IDF soldiers in Beit Hanun, police confirmed on Tuesday.
Haredi left-wing journalist, Israel Frey, wrote, "The world is a better place this morning, without five young men who participated in one of the most brutal crimes against humanity," during a post on X on Tuesday morning.
"Only in Israel can you both 'oppose' the war and 'be shocked' by what we are doing in Gaza, and also, in the same breath, send heartfelt condolences to those who actually carried out the atrocities. It's very simple: your leniency toward the criminals is indifference toward the crime. And the condolences are the legitimization and fuel for the continuation of the atrocities. Choose a side," Frey added in a second post.
Yonah Jeremy Bob contributed to this report.