Rabbis' state salaries are real pork barrel, say opposition heads

Welcome to The Times of Israel’s Daily Briefing, your 15-minute audio update on what’s happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, from Sunday through Thursday. Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman and religion reporter Canaan Lidor join host Amanda Borschel-Dan in today's episode. Lidor shares a sound sample from this morning’s priestly blessing at the Western Wall and we hear how this Sukkot, the tone of those attending has slightly changed. Last week, Tourism Minister Haim Katz was in Saudi Arabia and this week, Communication Minister Shlomo Karhi is leading an Israeli delegation to the Universal Postal Union’s 2023 Extraordinary Congress. Berman explains why these aren't necessarily steps towards normalization. Berman also discusses why Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Palestine Nayef al-Sudairi canceled his planned trip to al-Aqsa Mosque last week. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is slated to meet with his American counterpart, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, in Washington later this month after an apparent ban on ministerial visits to the US. What's changed? Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, the son of the much esteemed former Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, is again in the headlines for comments made during a recorded weekend sermon. Some of the Knesset’s opposition leaders had quick rejoinders for Yosef. What were they? Discussed articles include: Saudi tourism minister acknowledges historic Israeli presence at Riyadh confab Days after tourism minister’s trip, communications minister heading to Saudi Arabia Gallant to meet US counterpart in Washington, after Netanyahu’s sit-down with Biden Sephardic chief rabbi claims secular Jews who eat non-kosher food ‘get stupid’ Fearing religious takeover, activists see ‘secular awakening’ in Yom Kippur fray At a Tel Aviv prayer rally, anti-government protesters channel ‘a different Judaism’ Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on iTunes, Spotify, PlayerFM, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts. IMAGE: File: Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel Yitzhak Yosef visit at a school in the northern Israeli city of Tzfat, January 14, 2020. (David Cohen/Flash90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.