Hgry"sh zt"l: "The Pope is the father of impurity"

Pope Francis's visit to Israel raised many questions among observant Jews if one may participate at ceremonies with the Pope and may one shake his hand.

The one who spoke this weekend is Journalist Shlomo Kook in the Kol Yisrael column and who served as House Speaker of Harav Elyashiv zt"l, where he brought his reference to this and expressed Hgry"sh's opinion about it.

Kook wrote that seven years ago joined the campaign of then-Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Europe that included a visit to the then Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican in Rome.

Kook went with his father Hgrb"tz Kook to his teacher and mentor Rav Elyashiv zt"l who disapproved the idea of getting into the Vatican and look at the Pope. "I am not talking about whether it is right or wrong," said Hgry"sh. "But what comes to mind to go see the impurity? He is the source of all impurity, totally absorbed in impurity, represents the impurity."

Indeed, despite the journalistic curiosity Kook wrote: I conquered my disappointment and I chose to stay outside the Vatican. Furthermore journalists came in, and I the only orthodox in the same delegation, remained outside.

Observant officials who meet with the pope for peace in the kingdom, do so - under the heter of court of sages of Israel, headed by Rav Elyashiv zt"l himself, who permitting the chief rabbis of his time, on the following grounds: "In order that Jews not suffer, since the Pope controls a large gathering of Christians whom the Jews live amongst them."

Chief Rabbis coming to the meeting with the Pope wear a chain of "stone tablets" on their chest in response to the pope who wears a cross.

Following the exposure many lenders of the chief rabbis will not come to the meeting with the Pope because he is the father of the fathers of impurity.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!