Ovadia Yosef
Ovadia Yosef עובדיה יוסף | |
---|---|
Personal | |
Born | September 24, 1920 |
Died | October 7, 2013 | (aged 93)
Religion | Judaism |
Nationality | Israeli |
Spouse | Margalit Fattal |
Children | 11, including Yitzhak Yosef, Ya'akov Yosef and Adina Bar-Shalom |
Parent(s) | Yaakov and Gorjiya Ovadia |
Denomination | Sephardi Haredi Judaism |
Alma mater | Porat Yosef Yeshiva |
Occupation | Author, Politician, Rabbi, Talmudic scholar, and recognized halakhic authority |
Signature | |
Jewish leader | |
Predecessor | Yitzhak Nissim |
Successor | Mordechai Eliyahu |
Position | Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel |
Organisation | Chief Rabbinate of Israel |
Began | 1973 |
Ended | 1983 |
Other | Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv Spiritual leader of the Shas political party |
Buried | Sanhedria Cemetery |
Residence | Jerusalem |
Semikhah | Rabbi Ben Zion Hai Uziel[1] |
Ovadia Yosef (
Biography
Early life
Yosef was born in Baghdad, British occupied Iraq, to Yaakov Ben Ovadia and his wife, Gorgia. In 1924, when he was four years old, he immigrated to Jerusalem, Mandatory Palestine, with his family.[5] In Palestine, the family adopted the surname "Ovadia".[7] Later in life, he changed his surname to his middle name, "Yosef", to avoid the confusion of being called "Ovadia Ovadia".[8]
The family settled in the
In 1933,
Yosef composed his first
In 1937, Rabbi Yaakov Dweck sent Yosef to give the daily Ben Ish Hai
Yosef received rabbinic ordination at the age of 20.[5] He became a long-time friend of several members of his class who went on to prominent leadership positions in the Sephardi world, such as rabbis Ben Zion Abba Shaul, Baruch Ben Haim, Yehuda Moallem and Zion Levy.[11]
Residing in Egypt
In 1947, Yosef was invited to
Return to Israel
Back in Israel, Yosef began studying at midrash "Bnei Zion", then headed by Rabbi
In 1951–1952 (תשי"ב by the Jewish calendar), he published his first halakha sefer, Hazon Ovadia on the laws of Passover. The book won much praise, and received the approval of the two Chief Rabbis of Israel at the time, Ben-Zion Meir Hai Uziel and Yitzhak HaLevi Herzog. Two years later he founded Or HaTorah Yeshiva for gifted Sephardic Yeshiva students. This Yeshiva (which did not remain open for long) was the first of many which he established, later with the help of his sons, in order to facilitate Torah education for Sephardic Jews, in order to provide leadership for the community in future generations. In 1953-4 (תשי"ד) and 1955-6 (תשט"ז), he published the first two volumes of his major work Yabia Omer, which also received much praise.
Between 1958 and 1965, Yosef served as a
Rishon LeZion
In 1973, Yosef was elected Sephardic
Entry into politics
In 1984, Yosef founded the Shas party in response to minimal representation of Sephardic Jews in the
Assassination plot
In April 2005, Israeli security services arrested three people whom the Shin Bet claimed were all members of the
Family
When Yosef was 24, he married Margalit Fattal (1927–1994), born in Syria, daughter of Rabbi Avraham HaLevi Fattal, when she was 17. They had eleven children.[5][17]
- Shenkar College of Engineering and Design, both with the approval of her father. She is married to Rabbi Ezra Bar-Shalom, former Chaver Beth Din of the Upper Beit Din of Israel.
- Ya'akov Yosef, (1947–2013) was an Israeli rabbi and former politician who served as a member of the Knesset for Shas between 1984 and 1988. He is the father of Yonatan Yosef.
- Malca Sasson – nursery teacher for over thirty years.
- Avraham Yosef, (b. 1949) is the Chief Rabbi of Holon, Israel, and is a Sephardi representative on the Chief Rabbinate Council (Moetzet Harabbanut Harashit)
- Yafa Cohen
- Yeshivat Hazon Ovadia, and the author of a popular set of books on Jewish law called Yalkut Yosef.
- Rivka Chikotai, twin sister of Sara, is married to Ya'akov Chikotai, one of the Chief Rabbis of Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut.
- Sara Toledano, twin sister of Rivka, is an artist and married to Mordechai Toledano, and Head of the Yabiya Omer Beit Midrash as well as an Av Beit Din in Jerusalem.
- David Yosef, (b. 1960) married to Sofia, is the head of the Yechaveh Da'at Kollel, the chief neighbourhood rabbi of Har Nof, and credited with introducing his best friend Aryeh Deri to his father. He was appointed to Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah after his father died.[18]
- Leah Butbul
- Moshe Yosef, (b. 1966), a rabbi married to Yehudit. Both lived and cared for Yosef in his apartment. Moshe is the head of the Badatz Beit Yosef kashrut agency, and the head of the Maor Yisrael talmud torah, which also publishes the works of his father.
Final years and death
Yosef resided in the Jerusalem neighbourhood of Har Nof.[19] He would often wear tinted eyeglasses, as his eyes were very sensitive to light. These became a trademark of his persona.[20] Yosef remained an active public figure in political and religious life in his capacity as the spiritual leader of the Shas political party, and through his regular weekly sermons.[5] He was referred to as the Posek HaDor ("Posek of the present generation"), Gadol HaDor ("great/est (one of) the generation"), Maor Yisrael ("The Light of Israel"), and Maran.[21]
On January 13, 2013, Yosef collapsed during Shacharit at his synagogue in Har Nof, Jerusalem and was having difficulty using his left hand. After he was seen by a physician in his home, he was hospitalized at Hadassah Medical Center after suffering what was believed to be a minor stroke.[22]
On 21 September 2013, because of his worsening health, Yosef was admitted to
Halakhic approach and worldview
Meta-Halakha: Restoring the past glory
Yosef frequently made use of the slogan "Restore past glory" (להחזיר עטרה ליושנה) as a metaphor embodying both his social and halakhic agenda.
On a social level, it is widely viewed as a call to pursue a political agenda that will restore the pride of the
From a halakhic perspective, the metaphor is more complex. It is widely agreed by Rabbis and secular researchers alike that the 'crown' of the metaphor refers to the halakhic supremacy which Yosef attaches to the rulings of Rabbi
Even if a hundred
chumracontrary to Maran's instructions to rule leniently, even if many disagree with Maran...and it is not even permitted to act with chumra where Maran has ruled leniently on the matter, since the rulings of Maran, who is the Mara D'Atra and we have received his instructions, were determined as Halakha to Moses at Sinai over which there is no dispute, and he who deviates right or left dishonours his teachers.
However, there remains some disagreement over who exactly Yosef considers to be bound by the rulings of Karo.
Rabbi
The unity of Israel is desirable, and shall be achieved by a unified system of halakhic ruling. A unified system of halakhic ruling will be achieved, in his opinion, by a consolidation around the tradition of the Land of Israel, which he thinks is the tradition of the Sephardim to rule as does Karo in the Shulchan Aruch. However, the reality at this time is different. Every community retains its own traditions, and thus halakha should be ruled for each community according to its own tradition. However, because he believes that there is a trend of Ashkenazi ruling dominating, he cries aloud to save and preserve the Sephardic system of ruling.[32]
Tzvi Zohar argues that Yosef adopts a
Rabbi Binyamin Lau disagrees with both of the preceding interpretations. According to Lau, Yosef claims that all Sephardic Jews accepted the rulings of Karo as binding in the Diaspora, but over time deviated from them. Presently, upon their return to the Land of Israel where Karo is the Mara D'atra, they should return to adhering to his rulings. Thus, Lau believes that Yosef directs his rulings only at Sephardic and Mizrahi Jews, since the Ashkenazi Jews never accepted upon themselves the rulings of Karo. Lau views Yosef as operating on two fronts: the first against the Ashkenazi leadership which seeks to apply Ashkenazi rulings and customs to the Sephardim, and the second against the Sephardic and Mizrahi communities themselves, in demanding that they unite under the rulings of Karo.[34]
In any case, it is agreed that alongside the conservative aspects of his approach to Halacha, there are also significant reforms: his preference for the rulings of Karo, and his preference for leniency over
And I have heard that there are those who claim that since the Chief Rabbis of Tel Aviv-Yafo who preceded me set a custom of ruling with chumra, the custom is not to be changed. And it is not true that I have been allowed space to express myself. And in any case it is known that the Rabbis who preceded me were subordinate to their Ashkenazi counterparts, the
Shlit"aand to disagree with him on Halakha...But I who am not subordinate, praise be to God, will stand on my guard to Restore past Glory and instruct according to Maran whose instructions we have received.
Preference for leniency
Yosef adopted the Talmudic dictum that, "The power of leniency is greater". Therefore, one of his fundamental principles of halakhic ruling is that lenient rulings should be preferred over
The Sephardim are characterized by the quality of kindness, and therefore are lenient in the Halakha, and the Ashkenazim are characterized by the quality of power,[35] and therefore they rule strictly.
Yosef considered this principle an ideal, so that if
one is asked (a question) on a ritual-halakhic matter and succeeds in proving that a lenient position is a correct one from a halakhic standpoint, he sees this as a positive achievement.
In Yosef's opinion, the severity of Ashkenazi poskim results from their method of teaching, and a lack of familiarity with the
But since they (the Ashkenazim) are cautious in their teaching, they do not (bravely) rule halakha l'ma'aseh ('practical halakha'), especially on matters of new developments or new technologies which create halakhic problems, it is far from them to be interested and express their view of
Daat Torah...Our Rabbi the Gaon Jacob Saul Elyashar was among those few virtuous ones who took upon themselves this burden to resolve the actual problems of his time, and among them are some which are relevant to this day, and he did not avoid answering his questioner...
Yosef regarded ruling with severity as especially harmful in the current generation ("the generation of freedom and liberty"), since strict ruling might lead individuals not to comply with the Halakha. Writing in Yabia Omer, he says: "And truly, the growth of chumrot leads to leniency in the body of the Torah."
Examples of lenient rulings
Following this principle of leniency Yosef made a number of Halakhic rulings which are significantly more lenient than those made by his Ashkenazi Haredi counterparts. Among them are:
- That it is permissible for boys and girls to study together up to the age of 9.
- That a married woman who covers her hair may expose a few centimeters of hair from beneath the covering at the front.
- That it is permissible for a female widow or divorcée to wear a wig as a head covering, despite prohibiting it for married women (see below).
- That it is permissible for unmarried women to leave their hair loose and untied.
- That, when investigating whether a person might be a mamzer, as much plausible deniability as possible ought to be granted, so as to avoid condemning the person to mamzer status.[36][37]
The least of evils
Yosef aimed to encourage maximal observance of Mitzvot among as many Israelis as possible. In order to achieve this, "he is willing to follow a halakhic policy which, on the one hand, will minimize violations of the halakha, but on the other, concedes absolute adherence to the halakha". This is evident in a number of his rulings: providing kashrut certification to a restaurant that serves milk and meat; the slaughter of a chicken where there is a concern of it being trefa; and the wearing of pants by women.
Turning a blind eye
Yosef applied a policy of turning a blind eye to deviations from the halakha in circumstances where, if strict adherence to the halakha were required, it is likely that it would not be followed at all. Examples of this include the recital of the
Sinai Adif
In the Talmudic debate over Sinai and Oker Harim, Yosef was of the opinion that Sinai is preferable. Specifically, he emphasizes that the Sephardic system of learning, which emphasizes learning Halakha in depth, is superior to the common approach in many Ashkenazi schools, which relies on deep analysis of gemara employing pilpul, without reaching to the halakhic conclusions. This preference is based upon his support for ruling halakha on practical contemporary issues rather than ruling halakha as a purely theoretical pursuit. In a eulogy he wrote for Rabbi Yaakov Ades, his teacher at Porat Yosef Yeshiva, he said:
The distinguished deceased who was our Teacher and Rabbi at Porat Yosef Yeshiva in the Old City taught us to (learn halakha for practical purposes) and not engage in futile pilpulim which shall fade and be carried away by the wind. Regretfully there are Yeshivas where one who learns from Yoreh De'ah must hide in back rooms lest he be noticed and labelled an "idler" for learning a "psak" halakha, and the shame of a thief (will be upon him) if he is found and...anger and disgrace (too).
According to Yosef, the preoccupation with pilpul at the expense of learning halakha in depth causes lack of knowledge among Ashkenazi poskim, which in turn leads to unnecessary severity in making halakhic rulings, since the Posek is unaware of lenient rulings and approaches to Halakha used by previous Rabbis upon which the Posek could rely to rule leniently.
Attitude towards kabbalah
Yosef was sometimes willing to accept rulings which rely on the rulings of the
As is written in the book Iggrot HaTanya in the name of the
Chaim Volozhin in the foreword to his book...and if so, why all this awe that we should put aside the words of all the Poskim and all of the laws (simply) because of the opinion of the Ari z"l?[38]
Yosef's attitude towards the Kabbalah, the rulings of the Ari, and consequently the rulings of the Ben Ish Hai have been the cause of strong disagreements between him and Jewish immigrants from the Muslim world in Israel, especially the Jews of Iraq. The rulings of the Ben Ish Chai were at the heart of the disagreement between him and the Chief Rabbis Yitzhak Nissim and Mordechai Eliyahu.
Attitude towards minhag and traditions
Yosef gave strong preference to the written word, and did not attribute significant weight to
There are here (in Israel) the tombs of the greatest sages in the world. Holy Tannaim, amongst whom even the least was (able to perform) resurrection of the dead. They leave and shame these Geonim by going to Uman.[39]
Attitude towards the State of Israel and its citizens
Ethiopian Jews
Ovadia Yosef is often regarded as the pivotal force behind bringing
Attitude to Zionism
Yosef held a Halakhically ambivalent view towards Zionism as the
If the congregation wishes to say Hallel without a blessing after the prayer service, they should not be prevented.
Yosef's position could be seen as a middle ground between the Religious Zionists, for whom saying Hallel is compulsory, and the Ashkenazi Haredim, who do not say Hallel at all.
In a newspaper interview in which Shas was accused of being
What is anti-Zionist? It is a lie, it is a term which they have concocted themselves. I served for ten years as a Chief Rabbi – a key public position in the State of Israel. In what way are we not Zionists? We pray for Zion, for Jerusalem and its inhabitants, for Israel and the Rabbis and their students. What is Zionist? By our understanding, a Zionist is a person who loves Zion and practices the commandment of settling the land. Whenever I am overseas I encourage Aliyah. In what way are they more Zionist than us?[21]
In 2010, Yosef and Shas'
Yeshiva students and military service
Yosef regarded the wars fought by the State of Israel as falling within the Halakhic classification of Milkhemet Mitzvah. Nevertheless, he encouraged young students to remain in the Yeshivas, rather than be drafted into the military, because, "despite the sensitivity which Rabbi Yosef feels towards the Israel Defense Forces, he is deeply rooted in the Rabbinic tradition of the Yeshivas in the Land of Israel, and holds their position which opposes the integration of Yeshiva students in the military". Rabbi Binyamin Lau makes a cautious distinction between Yosef's public rhetoric, which presents a unified front with the Ashkenazi Haredim, and between internal discussions, where Yosef was said to be more receptive to solving the problem of integrating the Haredim into the military.
Yosef's grandson points out his grandfather's positive attitude towards the IDF, in that whenever the
Secular Israelis
Yosef frequently referred to the present situation in Israeli and Jewish society as "the generation of freedom and liberty". By this, Yosef referred to a modern reality of a Jewish community which is generally not committed to the Halakha, and where Rabbinic authority has lost its centrality. In this context, Yosef drew a distinction between those who profess a secular ideology, and those who are non-observant merely in the sense of a weak or incomplete commitment to Halakha accompanied by a strong belief in God and the Torah:
And I knew clearly when I was in Egypt, that many of these people (who worked on Shabbat for their livelihood), when they leave work, are careful not to desecrate the Sabbath, and indeed do not smoke on the Sabbath and all that follows from that. And some of them pray on the Sabbath in the first minyan so as to get to their workplace on time, and in secret their soul would weep that they are forced to desecrate the Sabbath for their livelihood.
This latter kind of non-observant Jews are, in Israel, mainly
Yosef, however, had no sympathy towards Israeli Jews who profess a secular lifestyle. His opinion was to fully exclude them from the Jewish community. For Yosef, the secularist Israeli public are secular out of 'spitefulness' towards Torah, and he likened them to idolatrous apostates.[42]
Israeli legal system
Yosef was opposed to bringing civil actions in the Israeli courts, because they decide outcomes by applying Israeli law, rather than Halakha. His opposition is consistent with the position of the Ashkenazi Haredi Rabbis, and some Religious Zionist Rabbis (e. g., Yaakov Ariel) as well. On this matter, Yosef has written:
And know that even though the legal authority vested by the government to decide cases is with the secular courts and the judges there are Jews, with all this it is clear that according to the law of our holy Torah – he who sues his friend in their courts commits a sin too great to bear, and he is as was decided by the
Rambam and Shulchan Aruch, that any who sues in their courts is evil and it is as though he has been spiteful and blasphemed and raised his hand against the Torah of Moses our Rabbi.
In matters of criminal law, however, Yosef is among the moderate Rabbinic voices who support the application of the rule
In February 1999, Yosef caused a controversy by strongly criticizing the Supreme Court of Israel:[citation needed]
These call themselves the Supreme Court? They're worthless. They should be put in a bottom court. They, for them (God) created all of the torments in the world. Everything that (the people of) Israel suffer from, is just for these evil people. Empty and reckless...What do they know? One of our children of 7–8 years knows better than they how to learn Torah. These are the people who have been put in the Supreme Court. Who chose them, who made them judges, but the Justice Minister, persecuter and enemy, he liked them, and he recommended that the President would appoint them as judges. What, were their elections? Who says that the nation wants such judges, such evil (ones)...They have no religion and no law. All of them have sex with Niddot. All of them desecrate the Sabbath. These will be our judges? Slaves rule over us.
Following these statements, the Movement for Quality Government in Israel petitioned the Supreme Court of Israel, demanding that Yosef be put on trial. The Supreme Court dismissed the application, saying that the comments were within Yosef's right to freedom of speech. Nevertheless, then-Supreme Court President Aharon Barak wrote in his judgement:[citation needed]
The words of Rabbi Yosef are harsh. The content is hurtful. It harms the confidence of his followers in this court. Neither a
dayan– who knows and understands the complexity of judicial work – needs to be sending to the community...
Political activity
Government influence
This article is part of a series on |
Conservatism in Israel |
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In 1990, Yosef used his position as Shas spiritual leader to pressure Prime Minister
According to one biography of the rabbi, Ben Porat Yosef, the relationship between the two had never been comfortable because of Shamir's unstudious personality. As a way of gaining a character analysis of politicians, Yosef had invited both Shamir and Shimon Peres to learn Talmud with him. While Peres proved an engaging and fluid learner, Shamir was stoic toward the material, a trait that led Yosef to instead use one of Shamir's cabinet members, Housing and Construction Minister David Levy, as his key partner in dealing with the Likud. Levy had a relatively warm relationship with the rabbi due to his moderate approach to Israel's security and foreign affairs policies, his charismatic personality, and his connection with Sephardi traditions (Levy, a Moroccan, was the highest ranking Sephardi politician in the 1980s).
In 1990, Rav Yosef pulled Shas out of the coalition with the Likud and attempted to form a partnership with Peres's left-centre
The failure of the scheme, known as
In the 2007 Israeli Presidential election, Yosef endorsed his long-time friend Shimon Peres, who ultimately won the election due in part to the support of Shas's 12 MKs.[44]
Cultural influence
In a 2004 article by Maariv,[45] Yosef was listed as one of the most influential rabbis in Israel. He was described as:
The spiritual leader of Shas. The man most identified with the honorific title
Jewish prayers according to Yosef's verdicts are the most common in Sephardic synagogues, and his halakhic books gained circulation beyond compare. Almost no one disputes the fact he is a Torahphenomenon, one of a kind. Despite this, he is a "field rabbi" and goes down to the common people with countless sermons.
Position on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict
Despite his controversial public comments, Yosef had long been a rabbinical authority advocating peace negotiations in the
Using this precedent, Yosef instructed Shas to join Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's government coalition, and later that of
In 2005, Yosef repeatedly condemned the
Yosef always maintained that Pikuach Nefesh applies to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and supported negotiations with the Palestinians. However, toward the end of his life, he no longer appeared totally convinced that diplomacy with the PA leadership would necessarily end the violence. Some media analysts had suggested that then Prime Minister Ehud Olmert may have been able to convince the rabbi to sign on to further unilateral actions by the government if concerted efforts toward negotiation failed.[51]
Yosef protested strongly against demands by the United States and other foreign countries that Israel freeze construction in East Jerusalem, saying that, "It's as if we are their slaves".[52] However, toward the end of his life, he indicated some flexibility on the issue, and may have taken a more pragmatic approach. In the wake of the diplomatic row between Israel and the US over Jewish housing in east Jerusalem, Yosef is reported to have said, in a private meeting with Shimon Peres, that "it is not permissible to challenge the nations of the world or the ruling powers", and that Israel should agree to a partial building freeze in East Jerusalem, at least temporarily.[53]
Halakhic rulings
Yosef is generally considered one of the leading halakhic authorities, particularly for Sephardi and Mizrahi Jews, who bestowed upon him the honorific title of "Maran".
Some of his more famous legal rulings include:
- In 1973, as Chief Sephardic Rabbi of Israel, he ruled, based on the Radbaz and other opinions, that the
- That it is legitimate and permissible to give territory from the Land of Israel in order to achieve a genuine peace. When the Oslo Accords were followed by an intifada, this opinion was later retracted.[57]
- Supported the sale of the land during the Sabbatical year, following the Sephardic tradition.
- Ordered the Shas political party to vote in favour of a law recognizing Yosef Shalom Eliashiv.
- Allowing the wives of Israel Defense Forces soldiers who have been missing in action for a long time to remarry, a verdict which is known as "the release of agunot" (התרת עגונות).
- That a woman should not wear a wig (sheitel) as a form of hair covering, but should wear headscarves (or snoods / hats / berets) instead. (According to Jewish Law, married women must cover their hair in public for reasons of modesty. Some Ashkenazi Harediwomen have the practice of wearing sheitels for this purpose.)
Controversial statements
Yosef made countless political remarks which aroused controversy. Statements deemed offensive relating to various groups and individuals were claimed by his supporters to have been taken out of context,
Recommendations of the Plesner Committee
In 2013, Yosef called for yeshiva students to emigrate from Israel rather than agree to serve in the army, stating:
God forbid, we will be compelled to leave the land of Israel...in order to free the yeshiva students (from being drafted).[76]
In October 2013, immediately following Ovadia Yosef's death, his son, David Yosef stated to the Prime Minister that the drafting of Haredi students into the army had hurt him in his final months more than his physical illnesses.[77]
Arabs and Palestinians
In 2001, Yosef was quoted as saying of the Arabs:
It is forbidden to be merciful to them. You must send missiles to them and annihilate them. They are evil and damnable.[78]
Yosef later said that his sermon was misquoted, that he was referring to annihilation of Islamic terrorism, and not of all Arabs.[61] He called for improving the living conditions of the Arab people in Israel, and said that he has deep respect for peace-seeking Arabs.[62]
Israeli Justice Minister Meir Sheetrit condemned the sermon, saying: "A person of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's stature must refrain from acrid remarks such as these... I suggest that we not learn from the ways of the Palestinians and speak in verbal blows like these."
Yosef drew criticism from the US State Department in August 2010 following a Saturday morning sermon in which he called for
all the nasty people who hate Israel, like Abu Mazen (Abbas), vanish from our world...May God strike them down with the plague along with all the nasty Palestinians who persecute Israel.[79]
Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator, said Yosef's statements were tantamount to a call for genocide against Palestinians, and demanded a firm response from the Israeli government. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu distanced himself and his government from the sermon, stating that Yosef's words "do not reflect my approach, or the stand of the Israeli government".[80]
The rabbi said he regretted his statements, and was said to have looked for a way of sending a conciliatory message to the Palestinians.[81] Three weeks later, Yosef sent out a conciliatory message reiterating his old positions in support of the peace process. He wished the Palestinians and their leaders,
who are partners to this important (peace) process, and want its success, long days and years". He continued, "The People of Israel are taught to seek peace, and three times daily pray for it. We wish for a sustainable peace with all our neighbors". He blessed "all the leaders and peoples, Egyptians, Jordanians, and Palestinians, who are partners to this important process and want its success, a process that will bring peace to our region and prevent bloodshed".[82]
Remarks regarding gentiles
In a sermon he delivered in October 2010, Yosef was strongly condemned (including, among others, by the
In his sermon, he said:"
People of Israel.[86]In Israel, death has no dominion over them... With
gentiles, it will be like any person – they need to die, but [God] will give them longevity. Why? Imagine that one’s donkey would die, they'd lose their money. This is his servant... That’s why he gets a long life, to work well for this Jew," Yosef said."Why are gentiles needed? They will work, they will plow, they will reap. We will sit like an effendi and eat.
That is why gentiles were created"[86]
Published works
Among Yosef's earliest work was a detailed commentary on the Ben Ish Hai titled Halikhot Olam. He was asked to finish the commentary
Yosef printed a commentary on the Mishnah tractate Pirkei Avot ("Ethics of the Fathers") under the title Anaf Etz Avot, and Maor Israel, a commentary on various parts of the Talmud. His son, Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, has published a widely read codification of Yosef's rulings entitled Yalkut Yosef. Another son, Rabbi David Yosef, has printed various siddurim and liturgy according to his father's rulings, and another halachic compendium entitled Halachah Berurah.[88]
In 1970, Yosef was awarded the Israel Prize for Rabbinical literature.[89]
See also
- Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah, the Sephardic Haredim Council of wise Torah Sages
- Isaac Sacca
- Avraham Yosef
- Yaakov Yosef
- Salah Hamouri
References
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- ^ "What if he goes?". The Economist. 5 October 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
- ^ a b c d e Kershner, Isabel (7 October 2013). "Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, Influential Spiritual Leader in Israel, Dies at 93". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
- ^ "Israel News | Online Israeli News Covering Israel & The Jewish World – JPost". Fr.jpost.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2012-06-06.
- ISBN 9789652263285.
- ^ אבידן, עמיחי (2013-10-20). הרב עובדיה שלא הכרתם. kaduri.net (in Hebrew). Retrieved 15 November 2013.
- ^ a b c d "Biography of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef" Archived 2015-02-12 at the Wayback Machine, Hebrew; Achdut-Israel
- ^ Posner, Menachem (7 October 2013). "Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, a leader of Sephardic Jewry, dies at 93". Chabad News. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
- ^ Levy, David; Levy, Susan; Azrak, Sari (2010). "Harav Sion Levy, zt"l, Chief Rabbi of Panama – Part 1". Hamodia. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
- ^ Minhat Aharon, Y. Choueka and Haym Sabato (Eds.), Jerusalem, 1980, pp. 15–32.
- ^ "500,000 Throng Streets of Jerusalem at Funeral for Rabbi Ovadia Yosef". The Jewish Daily Forward. 7 October 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
- ^ Fiske, Gavriel (7 October 2013). "Rabbi Ovadia Yosef buried in largest funeral in Israeli history". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
- ^ Harel, Amos (18 April 2005). "PFLP members held in plot to assassinate Rabbi Ovadia Yossef". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 26 April 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2005.
- ^ "East J'lem man gets 12 years in jail for plotting to kill Shas spiritual leader". Haaretz. 15 December 2005.
- ^ המשפחתון [The Family] (in Hebrew). Globes. 10 October 2013. p. 7.
- ^ Jeremy Sharon (October 13, 2013). "Tens of thousands gather again in Jerusalem in remembrance of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef". The Jerusalem Post.
- ^ a b Winer, Stuart; Ginsburg, Mitch (7 October 2013). "Intense mourning after death of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
- ^ Males, Rabbi Akiva (2017-12-07). "Gap Year Advice From Rav Ovadia Yosef, zt"l". The Jewish Link. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
- ^ a b "Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, 'Greatest Rabbi of the Generation,' has Died". Arutz Sheva. 7 October 2013.
- ^ "Chacham Ovadiah Yosef Hospitalized After Suffering Light Stroke". matzav.com. 13 January 2013.
- ^ Ross, Adam (24 September 2013). "Doctors: 'We're Fighting for Rav Ovadia's Life'". Israel National News. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
- ^ Sharon, Jeremy (24 September 2013). "Rabbi Ovadia Yosef remains in serious condition on respirator". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
- ^ "Ovadia Yosef, Rabbi and Israeli Kingmaker, Dies". ABC News.
- ^ a b Lev, David (7 October 2013). "Police: Rabbi Yosef's Funeral Largest in Israel's History". Israel National News. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
- Times of Israel
- ^ Ettinger, Yair (9 October 2013). "Thousands throng to Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's home as mourning period begins". Haaretz. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
- ^ Kempinski, Yoni (9 October 2013). "What Rabbi Yosef Left Behind". Israel National News. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
- ^ Eisenbud, Daniel K. (9 October 2013). "Thousands flock to pay respects at Rabbi Yosef's Jerusalem grave". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
- ^ Lau, B: "From 'Maran' to 'Maran'" (Hebrew), page 14. Miskal – Yedioth Ahronoth Books and Chemed Books, 2005.
- ^ Arusi, R: "The Clash of Laws in the Intercommunal Halakhic Ruling in Israel", Doctoral Thesis, Bar-Illan University.
- ^ Zohar, T: Hairu Pnei Hamizrach (Hebrew), page 351. Hakibutz HaMeuhad.
- ^ Lau, B: "From 'Maran' to 'Maran'". Miskal – Yedioth Ahronoth Books and Chemed Books, 2005.
- sefirah of Gevurah(strength), also known as Din (strict judgment).
- ^ Shut Yabia Omer, part 7, Even haEzer 6; addressed to Rabbi Grubner of Detroit, Michigan
- ^ Talia Westberg. "Open Beit Midrash: Perspectives on Mamzerim, From Sinai to the Knesset". Sefaria.
- ^ Yabia Omer 2, O.C. 25.
- ^ Avishai ben Chayim (20 August 2007). "HaRav Ovadia Yossef: Do not visit the grave of Rebbe Nachman in Uman". Maariv. Archived from the original on November 20, 2007.
- ^ 'Thanks to him I'm here': How Rabbi Yosef brought Ethiopians to Israel Ilana Curiel, Published:10.08.13, Ynet
- ^ "Consternation surrounds Shas joining Zionist group". The Jerusalem Post. 28 May 2010.
- ^ "Freedom Liberty and Rabbi Ovadia Yosef" by Ariel Picard, Havruta, Issue 2, Fall 2008, page 65-66
- ^ "Rabbi Schach – a man of wars and battles". Haaretz. 2001. Archived from the original on 2004-08-30.
- ^ Ettinger, Yair; Mualem, Mazal; Ilan, Shahar (5 June 2007). "Yishai tells Peres: Rabbi Ovadia has decided to support you for president". Haaretz. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
- ^ "NRG יהדות גאה להציג: 20 הרבנים החשובים" [NRG Judaism is Proud to Present: 20 Influential Rabbis]. Maariv (in Hebrew). 12 August 2004. Archived from the original on 26 July 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2004.
- ^ Steinberg, Gerald M. (2 October 2000). "Interpretations of Jewish Tradition on Democracy, Land and Peace". Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
- ^ Rav Ovadia Yossef. "Ceding Territory of the Land of Israel in Order to Save Lives", Tehumim Vol. 10, 1989
- ^ Rav Ovadia Yossef. "Ceding Territory of the Land of Israel in Order to Save Lives", Crossroads: Halacha and the Modern World Vol. 3, 1990
- .
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- ^ "Planning for Jerusalem in a Changing Political World". Foundation for Middle East Peace. 5 April 2006. Archived from the original on 7 August 2008.
- ^ Nahshoni, Kobi (26 July 2009). "Rabbi Ovadia slams US: We're not their slaves". Ynetnews. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
- ^ "Report; Rabbi Yosef Supports Jerusalem Freeze". Israel National News. 22 April 2010. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
- ^ "The History of Ethiopian Jews". Jewish Virtual Library. 29 August 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
- ^ Waldenberg, Rabbi Eliezer. Requested Sefer not found ציץ אליעזר [Tzitz Eliezer] (in Hebrew). Vol. 17. p. 105.
- ^ Michael Ashkenazi, Alex Weingrod. Ethiopian Jews and Israel, Transaction Publishers, 1987, p. 30, footnote 4.
- ^ Settlement Timeline Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine, Foundation for Middle East Peace
- Times of Israel. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
- Christian Science Monitor. Archived from the originalon 9 October 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
On Arabs in general, he said in 2001, "It is forbidden to be merciful to them. You must send missiles to them and annihilate them. They are evil and damnable." In 2009, he said of Muslims: "Their religion is as ugly as they are."
- ^ Jeffrey Goldberg (8 October 2013). "Remembering Ovadia Yosef, the Israeli Ayatollah". Bloomberg. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
Yosef was a mean-spirited fundamentalist who created a corrupt party that coarsened Israeli politics, held a medieval belief in a vindictive God, and made abominable pronouncements on the moral and personal qualities of those of different races, religions and political views. ... In the manner of the crudest fundamentalists everywhere, Yosef blamed misfortune and death on apostasy, irreligiosity and homosexuality ....
- ^ a b Ben Chaim, Avishai; Vaked, Eli (22 October 2001). הרב עובדיה יוסף הבהיר לעיתונות הערבית את 'נאום הנחשים' [Rabbi Ovadia Yosef Calls the Arab Newspapers the "Speech of Snakes"]. Ynetnews (in Hebrew). Retrieved 6 June 2012.
- ^ a b הראיון המלא עם הרב עובדיה יוסף [Full Interview with Rabbi Ovadia Yosef]. Ynetnews (in Hebrew). 22 October 2001. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
- ^ a b c Oster, Marcy (18 October 2010). "Sephardi leader Yosef: Non-Jews exist to serve Jews". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Archived from the original on 1 May 2013.
- ^ a b Mozgovaya, Natasha (20 October 2010). "ADL Slams Shas Spiritual Leader for Saying Non-Jews 'Were Born to Serve Jews". Haaretz.
In Israel, death has no dominion over them...With gentiles, it will be like any person – they need to die, but (God) will give them longevity. Why? Imagine that one's donkey would die, they'd lose their money. This is his servant...That's why he gets a long life, to work well for this Jew. Gentiles were born only to serve us. Without that, they have no place in the world – only to serve the People of Israel."
- ^ "Israeli rabbi stirs uproar by saying Holocaust victims were reincarnated sinners". CNN.com. August 6, 2000.
The six million Holocaust victims were reincarnations of the souls of sinners, people who transgressed and did all sorts of things that should not be done. They had been reincarnated in order to atone.
[dead link] - ^ "Rabbi tones down Holocaust slur". BBC. 7 August 2000.
- ^ Ovadia Yosef: Shoah victims - reincarnated sinners By JPOST.COM STAFF, 07/05/2009. "After all, people are upset and ask why was there a Holocaust? Woe to us, for we have sinned. Woe to us, for there is nothing we can say to justify it...It goes without saying that we believe in reincarnation...It is a reincarnation of those souls...All those poor people in the Holocaust, we wonder why it was done. There were righteous people among them. Still, they were punished because of sins."
- ^ Rabbi Yosef: Soldiers killed in war because they did not observe mitzvoth Dani Adino Ababa, 08.27.07, Ynetnews. "It is no wonder that soldiers are killed in war; they don't observe Shabbat, don't observe the Torah, don't pray every day, don't lay phylacteries on a daily basis – so is it any wonder that they are killed? No, it's not."
- ^ Rabbi Ovadia: 'Women should stick to cooking, sewing' By AARON MAGID, The Jerusalem Post, 07/30/2007. "A woman's knowledge is only in sewing...Women should find other jobs and make hamin, but not deal with matters of Torah.""
- ^ Rabbi Ovadia Yosef on Women's Day Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine Channel 10 News, Avishai Ben Haim, 08/03/2011. "Women cannot go to war...If a woman runs over a cat with a car, she begins crying." (On the other hand), "a man is a man - give him a task, and he will do it."
- It was God's retribution...God does not short-change anyone.
- The Jewish Week. September 16, 2005. Archived from the originalon November 20, 2005.
- ^ "Shas rabbi: Hurricane is Bush's punishment for pullout support". Associated Press. 7 September 2005.
- ^ Rabbi Yosef: Lieberman voters support Satan, Ynet, 02.07.09.
- ^ Shas' Rabbi Yosef: Voting for Lieberman gives strength to Satan, Haaretz, Yair Ettinger, Feb. 8, 2009. "My heart is heavy. Heaven forbid people support them. This is completely forbidden. Whoever does so commits an intolerable sin. Whoever does so supports Satan and the evil inclination."
- Times of Israel
- ^ Yosef's son to Netanyhau: Haredi draft hurt dad more than his ailments By YUVAL BAGNO, JPOST.COM STAFF, The Jerusalem Post, 10/08/2013
- ^ Myre, Greg (15 December 2004). "On the Air, Palestinians Soften Tone on Israelis". The New York Times.
- ^ "Israel rabbi calls for 'plague' on Mahmoud Abbas". BBC. 30 August 2010.
- ^ Keinon, Herb; Abu Toameh, Khaled; Mandel, Jonah (29 August 2010). "PM pulls back from Yosef's words". The Jerusalem Post.
- ^ Ettinger, Yair (16 September 2010). "Ovadia Yosef atones to Mubarak after declaring Palestinians should die". Haaretz. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
- ^ Mandel, Jonah (16 September 2010). "Ovadia Yosef 'blesses' peace partners in letter". The Jerusalem Post.
- ^ Mozgovaya, Natasha (20 October 2010). "ADL Slams Shas Spiritual Leader for Saying non-Jews 'Were Born to Serve Jews'". Haaretz. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
- ^ Heller, Jeffrey (7 October 2013). "Some 700,000 attend funeral of revered Israeli rabbi". Reuters. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
Dubbed 'Israel's Ayatollah' by critics who condemned many of his pronouncements as racist - he ... said God put gentiles on earth only to serve Jews...
- ^ "Yosef: Gentiles exist only to serve Jews". Archived from the original on October 20, 2010. Retrieved October 18, 2010.
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: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ a b Yosef: Gentiles exist only to serve Jews, Jonah Mandel, 18.10.2010, The Jerusalem Post
- ^ "Product Search: Rabbi Ovadia Yosef". isefer.com. 2002. Archived from the original on 25 February 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
- ^ "Product Search: Rabbi David Yosef". isefer.com. 2002. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
- ^ "Israel Prize Official Site – Recipients in 1970" (in Hebrew).
Further reading
- Nitzan Chen and Anshel Pfeffer, Maran Ovadia Yosef: Habiografia (Rabbi Ovadia Yosef: The Biography): Jerusalem 2004
- R. Benny Lau, Mimaran ad Maran: Mishnato ha-Hilkhatit shel ha-Rav Ovadiah Yosef (From R. Yosef Karo to R. Ovadiah Yosef: The Halachic Teaching of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef): Tel Aviv 2005
- Zvi Aloush and Yossi Elituv, Hayyav, Mishnato u-Mahalkhav ha-Politiyim shel ha-Rav Ovadiah Yosef (The Life, Teaching and Political Activities of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef): Or Yehudah 2004
- Mi-Yosef ad Yosef Lo Kam ke-Yosef (From Yosef to Yosef arose none like Yosef): review of all three books by Marc B. Shapiro
- Review of the Chen and Pfeffer book by Rabbi Benjamin Lau (Friday, October 1, 2004 Ha'aretz) Archived January 12, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- Y. Choueka, Pirkei Hayim, a biography of Rabbi Aharon Choueka and his Yeshiva, Ahava VeAchva, in Minhat Aharon, Y. Choueka and Haym Sabato (Eds.), Jerusalem, 1980, 15–32. (Hebrew)
- Zion Zohar, Oriental Jewry Confronts Modernity-The Case of Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef, Modern Judaism – Volume 24, Number 2, May 2004, pp. 120–149.
- Marc Shapiro article
External links
- Maran – a website containing videos of sermons given by Rabbi Ovadia Yosef(in Hebrew)
- Halacha Yomit – a website containing daily Halacha given by Rabbi Ovadia Yosef
- "Rabbi Ovadia Yosef - in His Own Words - An article by the Christian Science Monitor
- Sephardic Pizmonim Project- Obadia Yosef Biography page with his personal pizmonim recordings
- Article about Rabbi Yosef's method of psak (by Rabbi Yosef Gavriel Bechhofer)