Editor of Responsa of the Rishon LeZion: "I Asked Why the Rabbi is Determined to Answer Every Single Letter Without Exception"

Is it permissible to clean glasses with a tallit? Can a soldier who is a kohen carry out his priestly duties in the synagogue if he has killed a terrorist? What about sisters singing at the Shabbat table, is it allowed and appropriate? And if one wishes to install security cameras for safety reasons that operate on Shabbat - is that permitted?

If the questions mentioned here seem intriguing and stirring interest, yet appear unrelated, you will be surprised to hear they have much in common. All were sent to the Rishon LeZion, Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef, and not only were they sent, but they were also compiled and published together in the book 'Responsa of the Rishon LeZion', released in two parts - Part A and Part B.

The Decision: To Compile Responsa

In charge of gathering the numerous questions featured in the book and categorizing them by topics is Rabbi Abdiel Israeli, a prominent disciple of the Rishon LeZion. "About twenty years ago, I studied at the Chazon Ovadia yeshiva, under the leadership of the gaon Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef," explains Rabbi Israeli. "I became attached to the rabbi from the moment I entered the A class. I asked him many questions on halakhic issues and took a great interest. One day, the rabbi suggested: 'Sit and write a halachic answer on a certain topic.' I was surprised: 'Who? Me?' He answered: 'Yes, and I will review what you wrote.' So I sat and wrote the first halachic response of my life. The rabbi enjoyed it greatly, and since then our connection has strengthened, and he continued to guide me on halachic matters."

Even in his yeshiva years, Rabbi Israeli was exposed to many of the rabbi's writings, including questions and answers he was asked by various correspondents. "Before the wedding, I wanted to publish a pamphlet on laws related to marriage, and I sat with the rabbi several times to gather material and discuss issues. Ultimately, it did not materialize, but our connection was greatly strengthened and tightened."

Years passed, Rabbi Israeli got married and established his home, but still maintained a close connection with his rabbi. Last year, when the youngest daughter of Rabbi Yosef got married, Rabbi Israeli decided to act. He, along with some older yeshiva students, approached the rabbi and informed him that they wished to publish a new book on halachic answers the rabbi had given over the years, in honor of the daughter's wedding.

The Gaon Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef

"The rabbi heard our request and sent us to his office," Rabbi Israeli recounts, "He told us simply: 'There are some answers I have given, take them and make a booklet.' But there awaited them a great surprise, as the 'some answers' the rabbi had given turned out to exceed 5000 responses to various inquiries sent to him."

And as they began to review the writings, their astonishment grew even further. "We discovered that the rabbi responded to every letter he received, not only responded, but always provided a detailed and well-reasoned answer. I was deeply moved when I discovered a letter where he replied to a young child, a 10-year-old boy who asked what he should do during recess – whether to study or play, and the rabbi's answer was detailed and special. He cited sources stating the importance of play for physical health, which also impacts mental health, and advised: 'Don't neglect either', meaning - play and study."

Diverse Responses

Additionally, there are numerous responses the rabbi gave to leaders of the generation who approached him, seeking his opinion on various topics. On the other hand, there were also responses he wrote to various organizations, such as the Animal Welfare Organization, which sought his view on the practice of kapparot with chickens. "Many private people also approach him, not only observant ones, and some didn't even know to address him by the proper title of Rishon LeZion, but he treated everyone with kindness and replied to every single letter", emphasizes Rabbi Israeli with appreciation.

A wide range of questions was published in the two parts of the book, and at our request, Rabbi Israeli gives us a slight taste: "For example, a question appeared regarding placing a treat under a child's pillow. Concerning this, the rabbi writes: '... Ideally, in general, food should not be placed under the pillow one sleeps on, but in the crib of an infant or young children, if they are crying and calming them with a candy under the pillow, leniency can be granted, and even in this, if possible, place it beside them, not under the pillow'."

The book also includes a response Rabbi Yosef gave to Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, the rabbi of the Western Wall, who asked his opinion on playing musical instruments at the Wall. In response, Rabbi Yosef wrote: "I saw all that His Honor wrote, and my hand is with him, agreeing on everything written wisely, to forbid musical instruments in all the plaza of the Western Wall, both during prayer hours and at other times of the day ... as the entire area of the Western Wall is considered a smaller sanctuary, sacred only for learning Torah and prayer". He also mentioned at the end of his response an additional note: "If an event takes place near the Wall, it is best not to honor with sweets and delicacies, but only outside the area adjacent to the Wall".

The response to the student who inquired about photocopying books and duplicating them was also intriguing: "It is known that several of our generation's sages have expressed a holy opinion to prohibit the printing of a book without the author’s permission when the book states all rights are reserved, even someone who bought a book and wants to photocopy it entirely for a friend privately, it should also be prevented, as it is like explicitly setting a condition at the time of purchase that he sells the book on the terms that it should not be copied, as if everyone copies for themselves, others may not purchase the book". The rabbi also emphasized that the ruling regarding burning CDs is identical to that of copying books and that one should be very cautious.

Rabbi Israeli notes, that one day, he couldn't overcome his curiosity and asked his rabbi: "Why does the rabbi insist on answering every letter without exception?" The answer he received was astonishing: "All the rabbis who served as Rishon LeZion before me all came from rabbinical status," the rabbi explained to him, "I, in contrast, came into the rabbinical world from the yeshiva. I witnessed young men going through hardships and crises, and it's clear to me that the moment a young man sends me a letter, I'm probably a 'figure' for him, and when I respond to him, it will glorify and elevate him. If in the future he finds himself in any crisis, he can always pull out the letter, and it will spur him to return to the right path." The rabbi also added and recounted that he remembers that in his youth when he studied in yeshiva, he corresponded frequently with Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, and those letters were a source of encouragement and strength for him throughout many years.

But how does the rabbi find time to respond to so many answers?

"I know personally that the rabbi sits to answer questions whenever he is free," Rabbi Israeli explains, "whether it be late at night after returning from a long series of classes in the land, or while waiting at the airport for a flight abroad to disseminate Torah and reverence among our brothers, the house of Israel. In any situation, he is always seen immersed and engrossed in writing."

Satisfaction Like No Other

The work of compiling the materials proved to be extensive and very encompassing. Rabbi Israeli, along with his colleagues, sat for two months, intensively, just to organize the materials and categorize them by topics.

"It's practically endless work of binders upon binders," Rabbi Israeli details, "We sat and went over each letter. Since the rabbi already has halachic books he published before, we made sure to publish in the responsa books we produced only letters that were never published before, only truly new things. On the other hand, we made sure to omit the names of those who sent personal questions, and we also omitted identifying details from letters that concerned certain topics discussed in court where discretion is warranted. Some questions were also trivial and simple, and we omitted them as well. We endeavored to publish the unique ones, to bring things the public might not know."

The greatest satisfaction Rabbi Israeli mentions is that they are already working on compiling Part C for another responsa book and are encountering letters in which the rabbi wrote to correspondents: "Refer to Responsa of the Rishon LeZion Part A," and the like. "It proves to us that the gift we gave the rabbi is truly pleasing to him," he notes with a smile but adds on second thought - "But in any case, my personal feeling is that I only gained from this gift, and I earned an immense and empowering experience."

The Rishon LeZion's answer to a 10-year-old: