Ovadia Yosef
Overview
Ovadia Yosef
(born September 23, 1920) is the former Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel, a recognised Talmud
ic scholar and foremost halakhic authority
.
He currently serves as the spiritual leader of the Shas
political party in the Israeli parliament
. His halakhic responsa are highly regarded within Orthodox
circles and are considered binding in many Mizrahi communities, among whom he is regarded as "the most important living halachic authority."
Yosef has made a number of controversial statements which have been widely criticised and condemned.
Yosef was born in Baghdad
, Iraq
the day after Yom Kippur
.
(born September 23, 1920) is the former Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel, a recognised Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
ic scholar and foremost halakhic authority
Posek
Posek is the term in Jewish law for "decider"—a legal scholar who decides the Halakha in cases of law where previous authorities are inconclusive or in those situations where no halakhic precedent exists....
.
He currently serves as the spiritual leader of the Shas
Shas
Shas is an ultra-orthodox religious political party in Israel, primarily representing Sephardic and Mizrahi Haredi Judaism.Shas was founded in 1984 by dissident members of the Ashkenazi dominated Agudat Israel, to represent the interests of religiously observant Sephardic and Mizrahi ...
political party in the Israeli parliament
Knesset
The Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
. His halakhic responsa are highly regarded within Orthodox
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
circles and are considered binding in many Mizrahi communities, among whom he is regarded as "the most important living halachic authority."
Yosef has made a number of controversial statements which have been widely criticised and condemned.
Yosef was born in Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
the day after Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur , also known as Day of Atonement, is the holiest and most solemn day of the year for the Jews. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jews traditionally observe this holy day with a 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue...
.
Unanswered Questions
Quotations
It is forbidden to be merciful to them. You must send missiles to them and annihilate them. They are evil and damnable. […] 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.
Undated sermon calling for the annihilation of Arabs; a Shas|Shas spokesman stated Yosef only meant "Arab murderers and terrorists"
They don't observe the Sabbath, they don't observe the Torah, they don't pray, they don't put on phylacteries every day. Is it any wonder that they're killed? It's no wonder. May the Almighty have mercy on them and bring them back to religion.