Born in Israel · Nationality Israeli — Religion / Judaism / Chief Rabbinate of Israel

Yitzhak Yosef

Also known as: Yitzchak Yosef, יצחק יוסף

Israeli rabbi born in 1952, Sephardi Chief Rabbi from 2013 to 2024.

Yitzhak Yosef was Sephardi Chief Rabbi from 2013 to 2024. His statements about conversion, non-Jews living in Israel, immigrants from the former Soviet Union and exemptions from military service for Haredi students drew widespread criticism. These reported positions are not criminal convictions.

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Profile No. 6089 · Updated on 8 November 2026

2Documented controversies

2Sources

0Formal charge · all time

0Conviction

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

March 2024

2024: warning of emigration if Haredi students are drafted

No legal proceedings

Yosef said Haredi Jews might leave Israel if yeshiva students were forcibly drafted. Politicians criticised the remarks during the war and the debate over sharing the burden of military service.

State of the evidence: Events or statements reported in the cited sources.
Legal status — source text: No known personal criminal charges or conviction concerning these facts.
Attribution: Publicly contested stance or conduct, with no judicial finding of wrongdoing.

Sources · 1

[1]
Israel National NewsRabbi David Yosef: Criticism is acceptable, but you need to choose your words6 March 2025MediaMedium reliability

Last verified: 8 November 2026

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January 2020

2020: remarks about immigrants from the former Soviet Union

No legal proceedings

Yosef described some immigrants from the former Soviet Union as non-Jews hostile to religion, drawing criticism from the prime minister and other politicians. He also questioned some conversions conducted under rabbinical supervision.

State of the evidence: Events or statements reported in the cited sources.
Legal status — source text: No known personal criminal charges or conviction concerning these facts.
Attribution: Publicly contested stance or conduct, with no judicial finding of wrongdoing.

Sources · 1

[1]
YnetnewsChief Rabbi refuses apology: Masses of gentiles brought to Israel due to extraneous judgement7 January 2020MediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 8 November 2026

Add to this entry Any news?

II. Constellation of documented links

No documented link with another published profile for now.

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

III. Has something changed?

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Controversia profile, updated 8 November 2026. Latest version: https://controversia.info/en/fiche/yitzhak-yosef