Israel’s Sephardic chief rabbi has urged the country’s leaders to support US President Donald Trump’s call for Jews to observe the coming Shabbat.

Rabbi David Yosef made the call during his weekly Torah lesson on Saturday night, urging Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to encourage Shabbat observance in Israel and across Jewish communities worldwide.

Israel’s Chief Sephardic Rabbi David Yosef  (Photo: Arie Leib Abrams/Flash90)

“If a non-Jewish person so greatly respects our religion and even calls on non-Jews to rest on Shabbat, then all the more so should we Jews, who have the Torah, our tradition and the precious gift called the holy Shabbat,” Rabbi Yosef said.

The coming Shabbat coincides with the Torah portion of Bamidbar and falls shortly before Shavuot, the festival marking the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai.

“I expect and call upon the president of the state and the prime minister of the Jewish state to join the call of the American president,” Rabbi Yosef said.

“At the very least here in the Land of Israel, and also to call on Jews throughout the Diaspora to observe the coming Shabbat.”

“May this merit bring redemption soon,” he added, referring to the rabbinic teaching that the Jewish people would be redeemed if they observed two consecutive Shabbats.

Trump’s proclamation

Trump called for Jewish Americans to observe a national Sabbath from sundown on Friday, May 15, to nightfall on Saturday, May 16, as part of Jewish American Heritage Month and America’s 250th anniversary commemorations.

Read the White House proclamation

In the proclamation, Trump wrote that “Jewish Americans are encouraged to observe a national Sabbath”.

“From sundown on May 15 to nightfall on May 16, friends, families, and communities of all backgrounds may come together in gratitude for our great Nation,” he wrote.

“This day will recognise the sacred Jewish tradition of setting aside time for rest, reflection and gratitude to the Almighty.”

The president also called on “all Americans to celebrate their faith and freedom throughout this year, during this month, and especially on Shabbat to celebrate our 250th year.”