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Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, 2007 wearing tefillin and tallit and sunglasses.
Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, 2007 wearing tefillin and tallit and sunglasses. Tefillin, ( תפילין) also called phylacteries, are a pair of black leather boxes containing scrolls of parchment inscribed with biblical verses The tallit (טַלִּית also called tallis ( Yiddish, plural taleysm) is a prayer Shawl worn during the morning Jewish services

Rabbi Ovadia Yosef (Hebrew: עובדיה יוסף‎) (born in 1920 in Basra, Iraq) is a Haredi rabbi, Talmudic scholar, a recognized authority in Halakha ("Jewish law"). Year 1920 ( MCMXX) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display 1920 of the Gregorian calendar Basra ( BGN: AlBasrah also called Basorah Abillah and Uruk or IRAQ The name that British colony has adopted for Basra For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. Haredi or Chareidi Judaism is the most theologically conservative form of Orthodox Judaism. Rabbi (pronunciation, although in English usually) in Judaism, means a religious ‘teacher’ or more literally ‘my great one’ when addressing any master The Talmud ( Hebrew: he תַּלְמוּד is a record of Rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs and history Posek ( Hebrew פוסק po·ˈseq pl Poskim, פוסקים is the term in Jewish law for "decider"—a legal scholar who decides the Halakha ( הלכה; alternative transliterations include Halocho and Halacha) is the collective body of Jewish Religious law He is the former Sephardic chief rabbi of Israel and the current spiritual leader of the Shas political party in the Knesset (Israel's parliament). Sephardi Jews ( Hebrew: ספרדי, Standard Səfardi Tiberian Səp̄arədî; plural Chief Rabbi is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Israel topics. Shas (ש״ס is a political party in Israel, primarily representing Haredi Sephardi and Mizrahi Judaism. For Beit Knesset a Jewish Place of worship, see Synagogue. The Knesset (כנסת lit He is highly revered in the religious world, especially in the Sephardi and Mizrahi communities for his astounding erudition and Torah scholarship. Sephardi Jews ( Hebrew: ספרדי, Standard Səfardi Tiberian Səp̄arədî; plural Mizrahi Jews or Mizrahim, ( also referred to as Edot HaMizrach (Communities of the East are Jews descended

Rabbi Yosef's Halakhic responsa are highly regarded within Orthodox circles and are binding in many Mizrachi communities. As testaments to his remarkable erudition, Yosef's responsa are noted for citing almost every source regarding a specific topic and are often referred to simply as indexes of all previous rulings.

As spiritual leader of the Shas political party, Yosef is seen as a prime mover in improving the status of Sephardi and Mizrahi Jews in the State of Israel. He believes that voting in parliamentary elections and participating in Israeli politics is the key to such improvements and through his position with Shas has become a significant - and controversial - figure in Israeli politics. Politics of Israel takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic Republic, whereby the Prime Minister of Israel is


Contents

Biography

Rabbi Yosef was born in Basra, Iraq, but moved to Jerusalem with his family in 1924, when he was four years old. Basra ( BGN: AlBasrah also called Basorah Abillah and Uruk or IRAQ The name that British colony has adopted for Basra For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, he-Latn Yerushaláyim; Arabic: ar القُدس, ar-Latn al-Quds) is the Year 1924 ( MCMXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. He studied in Porat Yosef Yeshiva under Rabbi Ezra Attia. The Porat Yosef Yeshiva (ישיבה פורת יוסף is a Sephardic Yeshiva in the Old City of Jerusalem. Rabbi Ezra Attia (1885–1970 ( عزرا عطية) was a distinguished Sephardic Rosh Yeshiva and Torah scholar He received semicha ("rabbinical ordination") at the age of 20. Semicha (סמיכה "leaning the hands" also semichut (סמיכות "ordination" or semicha lerabbanut (סמיכה לרבנות "rabbinical In 1942 he was invited to Egypt by Rabbi Aharon Choueka, to serve as a Rabbi in Yeshiva A'hava Ve'Ahva, and as head of the Cairo bet din. Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. A beth din, beit din or beis din ( Hebrew: בית דין "house of judgment" plural battei din) is a Rabbinical After spending there three years he returned to Israel and served on the rabbinical court in Petah Tikva and later on the court of Jerusalem. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Israel topics. Petah Tikva (פֶּתַח תִּקְוָה "Opening of Hope" known as Em HaMoshavot ("Mother of the Moshavot " is a city in the Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, he-Latn Yerushaláyim; Arabic: ar القُدس, ar-Latn al-Quds) is the He was then appointed to the Supreme Rabbinical Court of Appeals in Jerusalem, eventually becoming the chief sephardic rabbi of Tel Aviv in 1968, which he held until his election as Chief Sephardic Rabbi of Israel in 1973. Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, he-Latn Yerushaláyim; Arabic: ar القُدس, ar-Latn al-Quds) is the Chief Rabbi is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular Tel Aviv-Yafo (תֵּל ־אָבִיב-יָפוֹ تل أبيب Tal ʾAbīb) (usually Tel Aviv) is the second-largest city in Israel Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar.

Rabbi Yosef's authoritative status is based upon his being an Illui ("prodigy") with an encyclopedic memory, and an authoritative arbiter of Halakha (posek halakhot). Illui ( Hebrew: עילוי or עלוי also ilui or ilooy; pronounced "eelooy" or "ee-lew-ye" plural Posek ( Hebrew פוסק po·ˈseq pl Poskim, פוסקים is the term in Jewish law for "decider"—a legal scholar who decides the Halakha ( הלכה; alternative transliterations include Halocho and Halacha) is the collective body of Jewish Religious law Posek ( Hebrew פוסק po·ˈseq pl Poskim, פוסקים is the term in Jewish law for "decider"—a legal scholar who decides the He is generally considered one of the most important religious authorities for Sephardi Jews and Mizrahi Jews. Sephardi Jews ( Hebrew: ספרדי, Standard Səfardi Tiberian Səp̄arədî; plural Mizrahi Jews or Mizrahim, ( also referred to as Edot HaMizrach (Communities of the East are Jews descended He lives in the Jerusalem neighbourhood of Har Nof. Har Nof (הר נוף lit scenic mountain) is a neighborhood on a hillside on the western boundary of Jerusalem, Israel, with a population of 20000 residents

Some of his more famous rulings are:

In April 2005, Israeli security services arrested three members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), who had been observing Rabbi Yosef in public and were held on the suspicion of intended murder. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine ( PFLP) ( Arabic: الجبهة الشعبية لتحرير فلسطين al-Jabhah al-Sha`biyyah li-Tahrīr Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. [2] One, Musa Darwish, was convicted on December 15, 2005 of Yosef's attempted murder and of throwing firebombs at vehicles on the Jerusalem-Ma'aleh Adumim road. Events 533 - Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, at the Battle of Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Ma'ale Adumim (מעלה אדומים is an Israeli Settlement and city located east of Jerusalem in the West Bank and on the edge of the Judean He was sentenced to twelve years in prison and three years probation. [3]

Influence

Rabbi Ovadia Yosef had some influence on some ultra-Orthodox Jewish people, mostly on the Mizrahi and Sefardi. His sons Rabbis Yaacov Yosef, Yitzhak Yosef and David Yosef are also Rabbis.

Government influence

In 1990 Rabbi Yosef used his position as Shas spiritual leader to pressure Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir into agreeing to hold negotiations with Arab states for a peaceful settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict. (יִצְחָק שָׁמִיר born Icchak Jaziernicki on 15 October 1915 was Prime Minister of Israel from 1983 to 1984 and again from 1986 to 1992 Shamir, a member of the Likud Party, refused to make any commitments. Likud (ליכוד lit Consolidation) is the major centre-right political party in Israel.

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, Rabbi Yosef had invited both Shamir and Shimon Peres to learn Talmud with him. (שמעון פרס born Szymon Perski on August 2 1923, is the ninth President of the State of Israel. The Talmud ( Hebrew: he תַּלְמוּד is a record of Rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs and history While Peres proved an engaging and fluid learner, Shamir was stoic toward the material, a trait that led Rabbi 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. David Levy (דוד לוי sometimes written David Levi born December 21, 1937) is an Israeli politician 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 Labour Party. Shas (ש״ס is a political party in Israel, primarily representing Haredi Sephardi and Mizrahi Judaism. The bold move, engineered but opposed by Shas chairman Aryeh Deri, backfired when the highly respected Ashkenazi rosh yeshiva ("dean" of the Ponevezh yeshiva in Bnei Brak) Rabbi Elazar Shach (and subsequent founder of the Degel HaTorah party) fiercely commanded Rabbi Yosef to return Shas to the coalition with the Likud. Aryeh Deri (אריה דרעי born February 17, 1959 in Meknes, Morocco) is an Israeli politican and former leader of Israel Ashkenazi Jews, also known as Ashkenazic Jews or Ashkenazim ( Hebrew: אַשְׁכֲּנָזִים, ˌaʃkəˈnazim sing Rosh yeshiva, ( pl. Heb. Roshei yeshiva; Yeshivish Rosh yeshivas) (ראש ישיבה is the title given to the dean of Ponevezh Yeshiva, often pronounced Ponevitch Yeshiva, ( ישיבת פוניבז) is a world renowned Yeshiva located in Bnei Brak, Israel Bnei Brak (or Bene Beraq) (בְּנֵי בְּרַק Bəne Bəraq) is a city located on Israel 's central Mediterranean coastal plain Elazar Menachem Man Shach (אלעזר מנחם מן שך (or Rav Leizer Shach, at times his name is written as Eliezer Schach in English publications ( January Degel HaTorah (דגל התורה lit Banner of the Torah) is an Ashkenazi ultra-orthodox political party in Israel. During this time Yosef was severely criticised by other major members of the Haredi religious community in Israel, particular the Ashkenazim who generally sided with the Likud and the right in opposition to the perceived secularist tendencies of Labour and the left. Ashkenazi Jews, also known as Ashkenazic Jews or Ashkenazim ( Hebrew: אַשְׁכֲּנָזִים, ˌaʃkəˈnazim sing

The failure of the scheme, today called the "Stinking Affair", or maneuver,[4] was responsible for Peres's downfall as leader of Labour, and his 1991 defeat in internal elections to former Defense Minister Yitzhak Rabin. Since the 1980s Yosef has approved the participation by Shas in most Israeli governments, except for the last two governments of Ariel Sharon since January 2003. (אריאל In the last Knesset, Shas was one of the few parties to have been in the opposition for the duration of that Knesset's term, along with leftist Meretz and the Arab factions Ra'am (United Arab List), Hadash, and Balad. This was largely because of the rise of Shinui to the powerful third party position, a position that was previously held by Shas. Shinui (שינוי lit Change) is a Zionist, Secular and anti-clerical Free market liberal party in Israel Shinui demanded to create a government without Shas.

In the 2007 Israeli Presidential election, Rav Yosef endorsed his long-time friend Shimon Peres, who ultimately won the election due in part to the support of Shas's 12 MKs. Shimon Peres, a former Prime Minister and a member of the Kadima party was elected by the Knesset as the next President of Israel on [5]

Cultural influence

In a 2004 article by Maariv,[6] Rabbi Yosef was mentioned as one of the most influential rabbis in Israel, second only to Rabbi Yosef Shalom Eliashiv. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Maariv (מַעֲרִיב lit Evening) is a popular Hebrew language Daily newspaper published in Israel. Rabbi Yosef Sholom Elyashiv (יוסף שלום אלישיב (born April 19 1910 is a Haredi Rabbi and Posek (arbiter of Jewish law He was described as:

The spiritual leader of Shas. Shas (ש״ס is a political party in Israel, primarily representing Haredi Sephardi and Mizrahi Judaism. The man most identified with the honorific title "Maran". Maran is a Title for exceptionally respected Rabbis The term is more prevalent among Sephardi Jews but is may also be used by Ashkenazi He has considerable political strength, mainly because he controls the Knesset members of Shas.

However, the key influence of Rabbi Yosef is in the arena of Judaism, specifically in Halakha:

In addition, he has great influence in teaching and endowing of his Halakhic way. Judaism (from the Greek Ioudaïsmos, derived from the Hebrew יהודה Yehudah, " Judah " in Hebrew יַהֲדוּת Yahedut Halakha ( הלכה; alternative transliterations include Halocho and Halacha) is the collective body of Jewish Religious law Prayers according to Yosef's verdicts are the most common in Sephardic synagogues, and his Halakhic books gained circulation beyond compare. Jewish services ( Hebrew: תפלה, tefillah; plural תפלות, tefillos or tefillot; Yinglish: davening Posek ( Hebrew פוסק po·ˈseq pl Poskim, פוסקים is the term in Jewish law for "decider"—a legal scholar who decides the A synagogue (from Greek: grc συναγωγή transliterated synagogē, "assembly" he בית כנסת beit knesset, "house of Almost no one disputes the fact he is a Torah phenomenon, one of a kind. term " Torah " ( Hebrew: תּוֹרָה "teaching" or "instruction" sometimes translated as "Law" most commonly refers to Despite this, he is "field rabbi" and goes down to the common people with countless sermons. . . .

Position on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Despite his controversial public comments, Rabbi Yosef has long been a distinguished rabbinical authority advocating peace negotiations, and has done so since the late 1980s. His main justification is the Halakhic ruling of Pikuach Nefesh ("saving lives"), in which all the Jewish commandments (excluding adultery, idolatry, and murder) are put on hold if a life is put in danger. Adultery is the voluntary Sexual intercourse between a married person and another person who is not his or her Spouse, though in many places it is Idolatry is usually defined as Worship of any Cult image, Idea, or object, as opposed to the worship of a monotheistic God. Murder is the unlawful killing of another human person with Malice aforethought, as defined in Common Law countries Yosef, using an argument first articulated by the late American rabbinical leader Joseph Soloveitchik, claims that the Arab-Israeli conflict endangers Jewish lives, thereby meeting the above criteria and overruling the priority of commandments pertaining to settling the land of Israel. Joseph Ber (Yosef Dov Yoshe Ber Soloveitchik (יוסף דב הלוי סולובייצ'יק was an American Orthodox Rabbi, Talmudist and modern [7] Therefore, Israel is permitted, even obligated if saving lives is a definitive outcome, to both make serious efforts to reach a peace settlement as well as make arrangements to properly protect its citizens. [8][9] Rabbi Yosef first applied the pikuach nefesh argument to Israel's conflicts with its neighbors in 1979, when he ruled that it granted Israel authority to return the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt (though some claimed the ruling was also motivated by Rabbi Yosef's desire to oppose his Ashkenazi colleague, Rabbi Shlomo Goren). The Sinai Peninsula or Sinai ( Coptic: sina; Egyptian Arabic: sina سينا Arabic, sina'a سيناء [10]

Using this predecence, Rabbi Yosef instructed Shas to join Yitzhak Rabin's government coalition, and later Ehud Barak's, as well. Shas (ש״ס is a political party in Israel, primarily representing Haredi Sephardi and Mizrahi Judaism. Ehud Barak (אֵהוּד בָּרָק born Ehud Brog on 12 February 1942) is an Israeli politician former Prime Minister, and However, Shas abstained on Oslo I and voted against the Oslo II agreement. Furthermore, as Oslo stalled and relations between Israelis and Palestinians began to deteriorate, and particularly following the outbreak of the Al-Aqsa Intifada, Yosef and the party pulled "rightward", supporting the Likud. Likud (ליכוד lit Consolidation) is the major centre-right political party in Israel.

In 2005, Rabbi Yosef repeatedly condemned the Gaza Disengagement. Israel's unilateral disengagement plan ( Hebrew: תוכנית ההתנתקות Tokhnit HaHitnatkut or תוכנית ההינתקות Tokhnit HaHinatkut in He argued that he was opposed to any unilateral action that occurred outside the framework of a peace agreement. Rabbi Yosef again cited the principle of pikuach nefesh, saying that empowering the Palestinians without a commitment to end terror would result in threatening Jewish lives, particularly in areas near Gaza in range of Qassam rocket attacks. The Qassam rocket ( صاروخ القسام; also Kassam) is a simple steel Rocket filled with explosives produced by Hamas. [11] In contrast to some of his rabbinical colleagues, such as Rabbi Yosef Shalom Eliashiv, Yosef refused to entertain the idea of holding a referendum on the disengagement, and instructed his MKs to vote against the plan when it came up in the Knesset. Rabbi Yosef Sholom Elyashiv (יוסף שלום אלישיב (born April 19 1910 is a Haredi Rabbi and Posek (arbiter of Jewish law A referendum (plural referendums or referenda) ballot question, or plebiscite (from Latin plebiscita For Beit Knesset a Jewish Place of worship, see Synagogue. The Knesset (כנסת lit

Yosef still maintains that pikuach nefesh applies to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and supports negotiations with the Palestinians, but no longer appears totally convinced that diplomacy with the present leadership can necessarily end the violence. Some media analysts have suggested that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert may be able to convince the rabbi to sign on to further unilateral actions by the government if concerted efforts toward negotiation fail. Ehud Olmert (אהוד אולמרט ɛˈhud ˈolmeʁt born September 30, 1945) is the 12th and current Prime Minister of Israel and the former leader [12]

Controversy

Among secular Israelis, Rav Yosef is mainly famous for being the leader of the political party called Shas and for his fierce and sharp rhetoric, often combined with curses and ill-wishes to political leaders. Shas (ש״ס is a political party in Israel, primarily representing Haredi Sephardi and Mizrahi Judaism. Opponents have claimed that Yosef's quotes are "hate speech". Hate speech is a term for speech intended to degrade intimidate or incite violence or prejudicial action against a person or group of people based on their race, Gender

Politics

Reactions to Rabbi Yosef's "political" quotes have ranged from laughter to fury among more secular Israelis, both in the political sphere and among common citizens. Shas spokespeople and Rabbi Yosef's followers argue that his quotes are taken out of context and that they include technical religious terms which the average person is not familiar with, and therefore, misunderstood. For instance, in April 2001, Rabbi Yosef was widely criticized for what was interpreted as a call for the unconditional annihilation of Arabs, saying, "It is forbidden to be merciful to them. You must send missiles to them and annihilate them. They are evil and damnable", and "The Lord shall return the Arabs' deeds on their own heads, waste their seed and exterminate them, devastate them and vanish them from this world. " However his second comment was in fact a slightly modified quote from Obadiah 1:18, referring to the descendants of Esau. The Book of Obadiah is found in both the Hebrew Bible and the Old Testament of the Christian Bible, where it is the shortest book only one chapter long Esau (ˈisɔ ( Hebrew, Standard Hebrew Esav, Tiberian Hebrew ʿĒśāw) is the brother of Jacob (whom God renamed A Shas spokesman defended Rabbi Yosef, saying the speech had been in reference to "Arab murderers and terrorists", not all Arabs, and that the Rabbi had been saying that the state of Israel should pursue its enemies mercilessly, as God had commanded the ancient Israelites to fight against their own adversaries. Shas (ש״ס is a political party in Israel, primarily representing Haredi Sephardi and Mizrahi Judaism. See also History of ancient Israel and Judah According to the Bible, the Israelites were the dominant group living in the Land of Israel. [13]

In March 2000, shortly before Purim, Rabbi Yosef attacked then-Education Minister and Meretz Party chairman Yossi Sarid. Purim ( Hebrew: פורים Pûrîm " lots " related to Akkadian pūru) is a Jewish holiday that commemorates Meretz-Yachad (מרצ-יחד Vitality - Together) previously known as Meretz and then Yachad, is a left-wing social democratic Yossi Sarid (יוסי שריד born 24 October 1940 is a left-wing Israeli news commentator and former politician Yosef referred to Sarid as "the 'Dark Side'", a term synonymous in Jewish parlance with the demonic realm of existence. Demonic is a Death metal / Thrash metal album by Testament, released in 1997 Rav Yosef continued, saying, "He is Satan, may his name and memory be erased. Satan, ( Standard Hebrew Satan'el, English accuser) is a term that originates from the Abrahamic faiths, being traditionally How long do we have to suffer this wicked man? God will extirpate him, the way he will extirpate Amalek. According to the Book of Genesis and 1 Chronicles, Amalek ( Arabic, عماليق, was the son of Eliphaz and the grandson of Cursed is Haman, cursed is Yossi Sarid. He will be uprooted from the seed of Israel. Just as revenge was wrought on Haman, so it will be wrought on him. "[14] Rabbi Yosef was promptly criticized by many in Israel particularly by non-Orthodox groups such as the Israel Religious Action Center, the legal arm of the Reform movement in Israel, and Hofesh, a secular non-profit organization that fights religious coercion, both of whom called for Rabbi Yosef to be tried for incitement. The Israel Religious Action Center (or IRAC) was established in 1987 as the public and legal advocacy arm of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism. Hi and welcome to Wikipedia! Please understand that this article is frequently subjected to vandalism and the insertion of personal opinions A non-profit organization ( abbreviated "NPO" also "not-for-profit" is a legally constituted Organization whose objective is to support or engage Rabbi Yosef was also criticized by several MKs and government Ministers. Some of Rav Yosef's critics argued that the comparison to Haman (whose name Jews are commanded to "blot out" on Purim) constituted a thinly-veiled threat on Sarid's life, and compared the incident with the fiery rhetoric and protests that eventually culminated in Yitzhak Rabin's assassination. [15][16] Rabbi Yosef's assistants and supporters dismissed these interpretations of his speech as politically opportunistic exaggerations, and attempted to counter this move by alleging that Sarid's predecessor in Meretz, Shulamit Aloni, had also committed "wild incitement" when, in response to the Sarid incident, she had referred to the rabbi as "a sort of Roman Emperor Caligula. Shulamit Aloni (שולמית אלוני born November 29 1928) is an Israeli politician and left-wing activist " Though Rabbi Yosef was investigated by the police, neither he nor MK Aloni were ever charged by the Israeli Attorney General. In most Common law jurisdictions the Attorney General, or Attorney-General, is the main legal advisor to the government and in some jurisdictions may in addition [17]

In a July 2001 speech Rabbi Yosef called for Arabs to go to hell: "In the old city of Jerusalem they [Arabs] are swarming like ants. They should go to hell - and the Messiah will speed them on their way. "[18]

In March 2005, Rabbi Yosef made comments that have been interpreted as praying for Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's death: "Let God strike him down. . . he is torturing the people of Israel. . . The Holy One wants us all to return to the Torah, and then he will strike him with one blow and he will die. He will sleep and never wake up. "[19] Aides responded to the public outcry by explaining that Rabbi Yosef had been criticizing Sharon's plan for the Disengagement from Gaza, not Sharon himself. Israel's unilateral disengagement plan ( Hebrew: תוכנית ההתנתקות Tokhnit HaHitnatkut or תוכנית ההינתקות Tokhnit HaHinatkut in Gaza (غزة, עַזָּה ʕazzā is the largest city in the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian territories.

Theodicy

Some of Rabbi Yosef's theodicy-related pronouncements have also been controversial. Theodicy (θiːˈɒdɪsi (adjectival form theodicean) is a specific branch of Theology and Philosophy that attempts to reconcile the existence of In 2000 he described the Holocaust as God's retribution against the reincarnated soul of Jewish sinners: "the 6 million Holocaust victims were reincarnations of the souls of sinners, people who transgressed and did all sorts of things that should not be done. 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. The Holocaust (from the Greek el ''ὁλόκαυστον'' (el-Latn holókauston holos, "completely" and kaustos, "burnt" also known as They had been reincarnated in order to atone. " In response to criticism, Shas chairman Eli Yishai commented that criticism of the rabbi was unjustified: "Rabbi Ovadia weeps for every Jew who is killed . Shas (ש״ס is a political party in Israel, primarily representing Haredi Sephardi and Mizrahi Judaism. Eliyahu "Eli" Yishai (אליהו "אלי" ישי born 26 December 1962) is an Israeli politician and head of the Shas . . but nobody, not even a saint, has not sinned. Everyone dies in a state of sin. "[20]

Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005 he blamed the tragedy on the Godlessness of New Orleans, on US support for the Gaza disengagement and on a general lack of Torah study in the area. Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was the costliest hurricane, as well as one of the five deadliest in the history of the United States Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. term " Torah " ( Hebrew: תּוֹרָה "teaching" or "instruction" sometimes translated as "Law" most commonly refers to

"There was a tsunami and there are terrible natural disasters, because there isn’t enough Torah study. A tsunami ((tsuːˈnɑːmi is a series of waves created when . . black people reside there [New Orleans]. Blacks will study the Torah? [God said] let’s bring a tsunami and drown them. . . Hundreds of thousands remained homeless. Tens of thousands have been killed. All of this because they have no God. . . Bush was behind the [expulsion of] Gush Katif, he encouraged Sharon to expel Gush Katif. . . we had 15,000 people expelled here [in Israel], and there [in America] 150,000 [were expelled]. It was God’s retribution. . . God does not short-change anyone. "[21][22]

Part of the controversy surrounding Rabbi Yosef's comments was his use of the Hebrew word "Kushim" to refer to the black people of New Orleans. In modern Hebrew, "Kushim" is considered a racial epithet. [23] One explanation offered for Yosef's comments was that since non-Jews (including black Americans) are not required to study the Torah, Rabbi Yosef was suggesting that the Jews of New Orleans were responsible for studying more to make up for the large non-Jewish presence in the area. African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa

Other commentors placed Yosef's statement in context with classical Torah views. Yosef's remarks were in accordance with two often quoted Talmudic edicts: That whenever one sees a misfortune, they should see it as a message that they should repent of their sins, and that if a person does not know how he has sinned, he should blame it on a lack of Torah study. The Talmud ( Hebrew: he תַּלְמוּד is a record of Rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs and history (Berachot 5a) However, those Talmudic guidelines are recorded in reference to Jewish individuals and in the context of assessing one's own misfortunes, not the tragedies of others. Most Rabbinic authorities do not engage in public statements like Yosef's.

Bibliography

Among Rabbi Yosef's earliest works was a detailed commentary on the Ben Ish Hai. Yosef Chaim ( 1 September, 1832 – 30 August, 1909) ( Hebrew: יוסף חיים מבגדאד) was a leading Hakham He was asked to finish the commentary Kaf Ha'Chaim by Rabbi Yaakov Chaim Sofer after the author's death. Yaakov Chaim Sofer (1870-1939 ( Hebrew: יעקב חיים סופר) was an Orthodox Rabbi, Kabbalist, Talmudist and Yaakov Chaim Sofer (1870-1939 ( Hebrew: יעקב חיים סופר) was an Orthodox Rabbi, Kabbalist, Talmudist and Two sets of Rabbi Yosef's responsa have been published, Yabia Omer and Yechavei Da'ath (both titles are references to Psalm 19). Responsa ( Latin: plural of responsum, "answers" comprise a body of written decisions and rulings given by Legal scholars in response to questions Psalms ( Hebrew: Tehilim, תהילים, or "praises" is a book of the Hebrew Bible (the Christian Old Testament) included His responsa are noted for citing almost every source regarding a specific topic and are often referred to simply as indexes of rulings. Rabbi Yosef has printed a commentary of the Mishnah tractate Pirkei Avoth ("Ethics of the Fathers") under the title Anaf Etz Avot and "Maor Israel" a commentary on various parts of the Talmud. The Mishnah or Mishna (he משנה "repetition" from the verb shanah he שנה or "to study and review" is a major work of Rabbinic Judaism Pirkei Avot / Ovos (Ethics of the Fathers פרקי אבות is a tractate of the Mishna composed of ethical maxims of the Rabbis of the Mishnaic period The Talmud ( Hebrew: he תַּלְמוּד is a record of Rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs and history His son, Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef, has published a widely read codification of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's rulings called Yalkut Yosef. Yalkut Yosef ( ילקוט יוסף; Hebrew: "Collation of works of Ovadia Yosef" is an authoritative contemporary work of Halakha, providing Another son, Rabbi David Yosef, has printed various prayer books and liturgy according to Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's rulings. A siddur ( Hebrew: סידור plural siddurim) is a Jewish Prayer book, containing a set order of daily prayers. He also wrote the Torat HaMoadim, rules about the Jewish holidays, and Halacha Berura,[24] another codification of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's rulings, in the style of the famous mishna berura by chafetz chaim, but codified for sepharadim. For the Gregorian dates of Jewish Holidays see Jewish holidays 2000-2050.

Secondary Works

Notes

  1. ^ Settlement Timeline, Foundation for Middle East Peace
  2. ^ PFLP members held in plot to assassinate Rabbi Ovadia Yosef Haaretz 18 April 2005 (English)
  3. ^ East J'lem man gets 12 years in jail for plotting to kill Shas spiritual leader by Haaretz December 15, 2005
  4. ^ Rabbi Schach - a man of wars and battles by Haaretz, 2001
  5. ^ Yishai tells Peres: Rabbi Ovadia has decided to support you for president Haaretz, 4 June 2007
  6. ^ Israel's most influential Rabbis by Maariv 12 August 2004 (Hebrew)
  7. ^ Interpretations of Jewish Tradition on Democracy, Land and Peace by Jerusalem Letter/Viewpoints October 2, 2000
  8. ^ Rav Ovadia Yosef. (הארץ "The land" referring to the Land of Israel) founded in 1918 is Israel 's oldest Daily newspaper. Events 1025 - Bolesław Chrobry is crowned in Gniezno, becoming the first King of Poland. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. (הארץ "The land" referring to the Land of Israel) founded in 1918 is Israel 's oldest Daily newspaper. Events 533 - Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, at the Battle of Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. (הארץ "The land" referring to the Land of Israel) founded in 1918 is Israel 's oldest Daily newspaper. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Maariv (מַעֲרִיב lit Evening) is a popular Hebrew language Daily newspaper published in Israel. Events 1099 - First Crusade: Battle of Ascalon - Crusaders under the command of Godfrey of Bouillon defeat Fatimid "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Events 1187 - Siege of Jerusalem: Saladin captures Jerusalem after 88 years of Crusader rule 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. "Ceding Territory of the Land of Israel in Order to Save Lives", Tehumim Vol. 10, 1989
  9. ^ Rav Ovadia Yosef. "Ceding Territory of the Land of Israel in Order to Save Lives", Crossroads: Halacha and the Modern World Vol. 3, 1990
  10. ^ Shas: The Haredi-Dovish Image in a Changing Reality by Israel Studies Vol. 5, issue 2 2000
  11. ^ Engaging Disengagement- Knesset Faction Positions on the Disengagement by the Jewish Agency
  12. ^ Planning for Jerusalem in a Changing Political World by Foundation for Middle East Peace April 5, 2006
  13. ^ Rabbi calls for annihilation of Arabs by BBC April 10, 2001
  14. ^ Israel must deal with rabbi's incitement by Canadian Jewish News April 6, 2000
  15. ^ Shas Rabbi Ovadia Yosef Issues Call for Destruction of Education Minister Sarid by Israel Religious Action Center March 19, 2000
  16. ^ Rabbi Ovadia Yosef Denies Intending Violence by Israel Religious Action Center March 21, 2000
  17. ^ A Rabbi's Fatwa by the The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles March 24, 2000
  18. ^ Arabs Should 'Go to Hell,' Top Israeli Rabbi Says by Newsmax July 27, 2001
  19. ^ Rabbi says God will punish Sharon by BBC 9 March 2005
  20. ^ CNN
  21. ^ Rabbi: Hurricane punishment for pullout by Ynetnews 7 September 2005 (English)
  22. ^ Nature’s Wrath, Or God’s by the The Jewish Week September 16, 2005
  23. ^ Shas rabbi: Hurricane is Bush's punishment for pullout support by Haaretz September 7, 2005
  24. ^ Not to be confused with the Talmud edition of that name inaugurated by Chief Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook. 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. The Jewish Agency for Israel (Hebrew הסוכנות היהודית לארץ ישראל HaSochnut HaYehudit L'Eretz Yisra'el) also known as the Sochnut or JAFI The Foundation for Middle East Peace or FMEP is an American nonprofit organization that promotes peace between Israel and Palestine Events 456 - St Patrick returns to Ireland as a missionary bishop Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 879 - Louis III becomes King of the Western Franks. 1407 - the lama Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. The Canadian Jewish News ( CJN) is a weekly English-language Tabloid -sized Newspaper serving Canada 's Jewish Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar defeats Caecilius Metellus Scipio and Marcus Porcius Cato in the Battle of Thapsus 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Events 1279 - A Mongolian victory in the Battle of Yamen ends the Song Dynasty in China. 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Events 630 - Byzantine emperor Heraclius restores the True Cross to Jerusalem. 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles is an independent nonprofit community Weekly newspaper serving the Jewish community of Greater Los Angeles Events 1401 - Mongol emperor Timur sacks Damascus. 1603 - James VI of Scotland 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Newsmax Media is a Conservative political organization founded by journalist Christopher W Events 1214 - Battle of Bouvines: In France, Philip II of France defeats John of England. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Events 590 - Bahram Chobin is crowned as king Barham VI of Persia. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Ynetnews is an English language Israel news and content website operated by Yedioth Ahronoth, Israel’s most-read Newspaper, and Events 1251 BC - A Solar eclipse on this date might mark the birth of legendary Heracles at Thebes Greece. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. This article is about the weekly newspaper published in New York City Events 1400 - Owain Glyndŵr is declared Prince of Wales by his followers Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. (הארץ "The land" referring to the Land of Israel) founded in 1918 is Israel 's oldest Daily newspaper. Events 1251 BC - A Solar eclipse on this date might mark the birth of legendary Heracles at Thebes Greece. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Abraham Isaac Kook (1865–1935 was the first Ashkenazi Chief rabbi of the British Mandate for Palestine, the founder of the Religious Zionist

External links

Preceded by
Yitzhak Nissim		 Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel
Ovadia Yosef
1973–1983		 Succeeded by
Mordechai Eliyahu
Rabbi Yitzhak Nissim (1896 - 1981 (יצחק נסים was a former Sephardic Chief rabbi of Israel. Chief Rabbi is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular Mordechai Eliyahu (Mordechai Tzemach Eliyahu מרדכי אליהו born 12 March 1928, Jerusalem) is a former Sephardi Chief Rabbi
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