A halachic storm has been brewing in recent days around 'Papushdo' cookies, following the harsh words of Rabbi Binyamin Hota, on his program on the 'Kol Berama' radio, in which he expressed reservations about the product's kosher status and even called for avoiding eating it.
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According to a Channel 7 report, during the radio broadcast, Rabbi Hota claimed that for years there had been sharp disagreements among the great Sephardic rabbis on the issue of the kosherness of cookies. According to him, even if in the past Rabbi Ovadia Yosef permitted the product, in later years "big question marks have been placed on the opinion of Maran Rabbi Ovadia.".
Rabbi Hota told of a private conversation between Rabbi Yaakov Yosef zt"l and his father, in which Rabbi Yaakov said to his father about the "papushdo" question: "Father, I was in the factory. Father, you weren't.".
When asked by Rabbi Ovadia why he didn't come to update him on the findings, he replied: "There were several people who prevented me from talking to my father.".
""I see a doubt here, there is a serious doubt here of the law, of the Torah, why should I bother?" Rabbi Hota said on the broadcast. According to him, he does not intend to establish an unequivocal prohibition, but he wants to warn: "Do not bring this into the house, unequivocally. Do not play with fire.".
Rabbi Hota added and explained on the broadcast that he received an invitation to come to the factory for a tour, but according to him he is only interested in coming for a surprise visit and not by prior appointment. "I am not coming for a planned visit, gentlemen. I want to come for a surprise visit.".
His words provoked a sharp response from Rabbi Avraham Yosef, the son of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, who attacked him on his program on the radio "Kol Hai": "There is a crime of theft here, that he is stealing the factories, there is a crime of fraud here, because he is called the Rabbi.".
Rabbi Yosef added: "Anyone who follows him should know that it is forbidden to listen to any of his instructions, all of his instructions are null and void, because this man is called a slanderer and a fool.".
According to him, this is a "dishonest and unfaithful Jew" who gives a bad name to the deceased, and that his claim that he asked to visit the factories is not true: "He stands and says that he asked to come and we didn't let him - this is not our way. We, thank God, are open, transparent.".
From Kol Berama Radio: "The rabbi, Rabbi Benjamin Hota, is one of the greatest rabbis of our generation. His unique way of imparting and making the world of halakhah accessible according to the teachings of Maran Beit Yosef in his series of books, 'Ki Bo Shabbat', 'Ki Ba Moed', 'Eliva Dehalkhata', 'Brit Binyamin', 'Hichud Be Halakhah', 'Timtzit Aninei Choshen Mishpat', 'Le Binyamin Amer' and others have become a household name in yeshiva halls and in every Jewish home.
""The rabbi's programs on the radio 'Kol Rama', which Maran Rabbeinu Ovadia Yosef said was 'the greatest yeshiva in the world', are renowned for their clarity and accuracy in a way that is equal to every soul. The rabbis' acknowledgment that these programs, like the other Torah programs on 'Kol Rama', are among the greatest and most magnificent in the history of the Jewish people. Hundreds of thousands of listeners in Israel and around the world are privileged to enjoy every morning the Halacha corner presented by him and his weekly program on Friday night 'Mabat Shabbat' on the laws of Shabbat.".
On the radio they added: "We have refrained from entering the beer aisles on matters of halachic law, but our many years of acquaintance with Rabbi Binyamin Chota have convinced us that nothing halachic law comes out of his mouth unless it is carefully sifted through a sieve and combined.".
""In these days when the people of Israel are under war at home and abroad, let us all strive to increase love, brotherhood, and companionship, all on the path that leads to Bethel. And may the words of our sages, may their memory be blessed, come true for us, and let us camp under the mountain as one man with one heart."
"And truth and peace loved.".
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