View source for Ovadia Yosef

{{short description|Talmudic scholar, posek and Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel from 1973 to 1983}}
{{Infobox Jewish leader
| honorific-prefix = [[Maran]]
| name = Ovadia Yosef
| native-name = {{No bold|{{Script/Hebrew|עובדיה יוסף}}}}
| native-name-lang = he
| honorific-suffix = 
| title = 
| image = Harav Ovadia Yosef.JPG
| caption = Ovadia Yosef in the synagogue below his house
| synagogue = 
| synagogueposition = 
| yeshiva = 
| yeshivaposition = 
| organisation = [[Chief Rabbinate of Israel]]
| organisationposition = Sephardi [[Chief Rabbi]] of Israel
| began = 1972
| ended = 1983
| predecessor = [[Yitzhak Nissim]]
| successor = [[Mordechai Eliyahu]]
| rabbi = 
| rebbe = 
| kohan = 
| hazzan = 
| rank = 
| other_post = Sephardi Chief Rabbi of [[Tel Aviv]]<br />Spiritual leader of the [[Shas]] political party
<!---------- Personal details ---------->| birth_date = September 24, 1920
| birth_place = [[Baghdad]], [[History of Iraq#20th century|British occupied Iraq]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|2013|10|7|1920|9|24}}
| death_place = [[Jerusalem]], [[Israel]]
| buried = [[Sanhedria Cemetery]]
| nationality = [[Israel]]i
| denomination = Sephardi [[Haredi Judaism]]
| residence = Jerusalem
| dynasty = 
| parents = Yaakov and Gorjiya Ovadia
| spouse = Margalit Fattal
| children = 11, including [[Yitzhak Yosef]], [[Ya'akov Yosef]], [[David Yosef]] and [[Adina Bar-Shalom]]
| occupation = Author, Politician, [[Rabbi]], [[Talmud]]ic scholar, and recognized [[Halakha|halakhic]] authority
| profession = 
| alma_mater = [[Porat Yosef Yeshiva]]
| semicha = Rabbi [[Ben-Zion Meir Hai Uziel|Ben Zion Hai Uziel]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4438174,00.html|title=Rabbi Yosef in 1972: In Egypt they thought I was an Israeli spy|first=Refael|last=Bashan|date=8 October 2013|access-date=9 October 2013|work=[[Ynetnews]]}}</ref>
| signature = Ovadia Yosef signature.svg
}}
'''Ovadia Yosef''' ({{langx|he|עובדיה יוסף|Ovadya Yosef}}, {{Langx|ar|عبد الله يوسف|‘Abd Allāh Yūsuf}};<ref name="Name">{{cite web |url=https://www.haaretz.com/misc/tags/1.477118|title=Rabbi Ovadia Yosef|year=2013|work=[[Haaretz]]|access-date=7 October 2013}}</ref> September 24, 1920 – October 7, 2013),<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/National-News/Shas-spiritual-leader-Rabbi-Ovadia-Yosef-dies-at-93-328072|title=Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef dies at 93|work=[[The Jerusalem Post]]|date=7 October 2013|access-date=7 October 2013}}</ref> also known as '''Maran<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Azoulay |first=Yehuda |title=The Blogs: Maran: The Life & Scholarship of Hacham Ovadia Yosef – Three Years later and deeply missed… |url=https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/maran-the-life-scholarship-of-hacham-ovadia-yosef-three-years-later-and-deeply-missed/ |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=blogs.timesofisrael.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rabbi Ovadia Yosef – “Maran” – Breslev |url=https://breslev.com/419130/ |access-date=2025-04-17 |language=en-US}}</ref>''' ({{Langx|he|מרן}}) "Our Master", was an [[History of the Jews in Iraq#Otoman rule|Iraqi]]-born [[Talmud]]ic scholar, [[hakham]], [[posek]], and the [[Sephardi Jews|Sephardi]] [[Chief Rabbi of Israel]] from 1972 to 1983. Also known as [[Gadol|Gadol Yisrael]] ("great one of Israel"),'''<ref name=":0" />''' Yosef is regarded as one of the most influential Sephardic religious authorities of all time.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2013-10-07 |title=Obituary: Rabbi Ovadia Yosef |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-24430737 |access-date=2025-04-15 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=MERIA: Rabbi Ovadia Yosef And His Culture War In Israel |url=https://ciaotest.cc.columbia.edu/olj/meria/meria00_kao01.html |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=ciaotest.cc.columbia.edu}}</ref> He was also a founder and longtime spiritual leader of Israel's religious [[Shas]] party.<ref name="5econ10">{{cite news|title=What if he goes?|url=https://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21587240-will-israels-beefiest-religious-party-survive-its-founders-demise-what-if-he|newspaper=[[The Economist]]|access-date=21 October 2013|date=5 October 2013}}</ref><ref name=ny /> Yosef's [[Responsa#In Judaism|responsa]] were highly regarded in [[Haredi]] circles, particularly among [[Mizrahi Jews|Mizrahi]] communities, which considered him "the most important living halakhic authority".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1239710806422&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull |title=Israel News &#124; Online Israeli News Covering Israel & The Jewish World – JPost |publisher=Fr.jpost.com |access-date=2012-06-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713124441/http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1239710806422&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull |archive-date=2011-07-13 }}</ref>

==Biography==
[[File:Ovadia Yosef as a child with his family.jpg|thumbnail|Yosef as a child with his family]]
[[File:O. Yosef.jpg|thumbnail|Yosef in the 1940s or 1950s]]

===Early life===
Yosef was born in [[Baghdad]], [[History of Iraq#20th century|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.<ref name=ny>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/08/world/middleeast/rabbi-ovadia-yosef-influential-spiritual-leader-in-israel-dies-at-93.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0|title=Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, Influential Spiritual Leader in Israel, Dies at 93|first=Isabel|last=Kershner|date=7 October 2013|access-date=7 October 2013|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> In Palestine, the family adopted the surname "Ovadia".<ref>{{cite book|last=Picard|first=Ariel|title=Mishnato shel ha-Rav ʻOvadyah Yosef be-ʻidan shel temurot : ḥeḳer ha-halakhah u-viḳoret tarbut|year=2007|publisher=Bar Ilan University|location=Ramat Gan, Israel|isbn=9789652263285|page=52}}</ref> Later in life, he changed his surname to his middle name, "Yosef", to avoid the confusion of being called "Ovadia Ovadia".<ref>{{cite web|last=אבידן|first=עמיחי|script-title=he:הרב עובדיה שלא הכרתם|url=http://www.kaduri.net/?CategoryID=484&ArticleID=2887|work=kaduri.net|access-date=15 November 2013|language=he|date=2013-10-20}}</ref>

The family settled in Jerusalem's [[Beit Yisrael]] neighborhood, where Yaakov operated a grocery store. The family was poor, and Yosef was forced to work at a young age. His Rosh Yeshiva petitioned his father to ensure he would not miss school to help the family.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tzvi |date=2025-04-01 |title=Rabbi Ovadia Yosef: Torah's Commander-in-Chief {{!}} Aish |url=https://aish.com/rabbi-ovadia-yosef-torahs-commander-in-chief/ |access-date=2025-08-25 |website=Aish.com |language=en-US}}</ref> He learned in [[Talmud Torah]] B'nei Zion in the [[Bukharim quarter]], where his passion and skill for [[Torah]] study was apparent. His literary career began at age 9 with a commentary on ''[[Reshit Chochmah]]'', which he penned in the margins.<ref name="of Rabbi">[http://achdut-israel.org/il/heritage/ "Biography of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150212165632/http://achdut-israel.org/il/heritage/ |date=2015-02-12 }}, Hebrew; ''Achdut-Israel''</ref>

In 1933, [[Hakham]] [[Sadqa Hussein]] prevailed upon Yaakov to send his son to [[Porat Yosef Yeshiva]].<ref name="of Rabbi"/> He soon advanced to the highest [[Shiur (Torah)|shiur]] taught by the [[rosh yeshiva]], Rabbi [[Ezra Attiya]].<ref name="CN">{{cite news|url=http://www.chabad.org/news/article_cdo/aid/2353122/jewish/Rabbi-Ovadia-Yosef-a-leader-of-Sephardic-Jewry-dies-at-93.htm|title=Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, a leader of Sephardic Jewry, dies at 93|last=Posner|first=Menachem|date=7 October 2013|publisher=Chabad News|access-date=8 October 2013}}</ref>

Yosef composed his first [[Sefer (Hebrew)|sefer]], together with two friends, called ''Machberet Ha'atakat Hidot''.<ref name="of Rabbi"/>

In 1937, Rabbi Yaakov Dweck sent Yosef to give the daily ''Ben Ish Hai'' [[halakha]] [[Shiur (Torah)|shiur]] in his stead at the Ohel Rachel Synagogue for the [[Persian Jewish]] community in Beit Yisrael. In the course of giving this shiur, Yosef dissented many times with the stringent opinions of the [[Yosef Hayyim|Ben Ish Hai]], who preferred the rulings of the [[Ari zal]] to [[Yosef Karo]]. This was a defining moment for Yosef, who had found a place to air his opinions while simultaneously learning how to deal with the criticism he was receiving from many in his audience, especially his fellow [[History of the Jews in Iraq#Ottoman rule|Iraqi Jews]]. A number of notable rabbis, among them [[Yitzhak Nissim]], rebuked him over the years for his positions, even burning his first halakha sefer, ''Hazon Ovadia''. But Rabbi Attiya encouraged Yosef to continue ruling according to his own understanding. Yosef's objections to ''Ben Ish Hai'', for many years in handwritten form only, were printed beginning in 1998 with the appearance of his ''Halikhot Olam''.<ref name="of Rabbi"/>

Yosef received [[Semikhah|rabbinic ordination]] at age 20.<ref name=ny/> He became a longtime friend of several members of his class who went on to prominent leadership positions in the Sephardi world, including Rabbis [[Ben Zion Abba Shaul]], [[Baruch Ben Haim]], Yehuda Moallem, and [[Zion Levy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hamodia.com/inthepaper.cfm?ArticleID=103|title=Harav Sion Levy, zt"l, Chief Rabbi of Panama – Part 1|first1=David|last1=Levy|first2=Susan|last2=Levy|first3=Sari|last3=Azrak|work=[[Hamodia]]|year=2010|access-date=30 January 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130216050042/http://www.hamodia.com/inthepaper.cfm?ArticleID=103|archive-date=16 February 2013}}</ref>

=== Residing in Egypt ===
In 1947, Yosef was invited to [[Cairo]] by Rabbi Aharon Choueka, founder of yeshiva Ahavah VeAchvah, to teach in his yeshiva.<ref name="Minhat">Minhat Aharon, Y. Choueka and Haym Sabato (Eds.), Jerusalem, 1980, pp. 15–32.</ref> At Rabbi [[Ben-Zion Meir Hai Uziel]]'s request, Yosef also served as head of the Cairo ''[[beth din]]'' (rabbinical court). Yosef considered religious observance lax in Egypt, both in the Jewish community at large and among its rabbis. One of the major [[Halachic]] issues was the lack of any organised system of [[Kashrut]], which led to conflict between him and other members of the community. Due to these events Yosef resigned from his position just two years after arriving in Cairo. About a year later he returned to what in the meantime had become Israel.<ref name="JDF">{{cite news|url=http://forward.com/articles/185180/-throng-streets-of-jerusalem-at-funeral-for/|title=500,000 Throng Streets of Jerusalem at Funeral for Rabbi Ovadia Yosef |date=7 October 2013|publisher=The Jewish Daily Forward|access-date=8 October 2013}}</ref>

=== Return to Israel ===
Back in Israel, Yosef began studying at midrash "Bnei Zion", then headed by Rabbi [[Tzvi Pesach Frank]]. He also served on the rabbinical court in [[Petah Tikva]]. In his first term as a dayan (rabbinic judge), at age 30, he wrote a Halachic ruling favoring [[Yibbum]] over [[Halitza]], which contradicted a religious ruling made by the [[Chief Rabbinate of Israel]] a year earlier, which had forbidden Yibbum.{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}

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 was not open long) was the first of many he established, later with the help of his sons, to facilitate Torah education for Sephardic Jews, in order to provide leadership for the community in future generations. In 1953–54 (תשי"ד) and 1955–56 (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 [[Dayan (rabbinic judge)|dayan]] in the Jerusalem district [[Beth Din]]. He was then appointed to the Supreme Rabbinical Court of Appeals in Jerusalem, becoming the [[Chief Rabbi|Chief Sephardic Rabbi]] of [[Tel Aviv]] in 1968, a position he held until his election as [[Chief Rabbinate of Israel|Chief Sephardic Rabbi of Israel]] in 1972.<ref name="times1">{{cite news|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/jerusalem-closes-down-for-rabbi-ovadia-yosefs-funeral/|title=Rabbi Ovadia Yosef buried in largest funeral in Israeli history|last=Fiske|first=Gavriel|date=7 October 2013|publisher=The Times of Israel|access-date=8 October 2013}}</ref>

=== Rishon LeZion ===
In 1972, Yosef was elected Sephardic [[Chief Rabbi of Israel]] by a majority vote of 81 to 68, replacing [[Yitzhak Nissim]]. His candidacy was criticised by some, as he was competing against an incumbent Chief Rabbi for the first time in the history of that office. The election process was characterised by tension and political controversy because of the Psak Din of the Brother and Sister and the tense relations between Yosef and Nissim. In the same election, Rabbi [[Shlomo Goren]] was chosen as the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel, with whom Yosef's relationship proved difficult. The Council of the Chief Rabbinate was controlled by Goren, and for some time thereafter Yosef felt there was no point in attending its sessions.

=== Entry into politics ===
{{Main|Shas}}
In 1984, Yosef founded the Shas party in response to minimal representation of Sephardic Jews in the [[Ashkenazi]]-dominated [[Agudat Yisrael]]. It has since become a formidable political force, becoming part of the coalition in most of the elected governments since. He later took a less active role in politics, but remained the party's spiritual leader until his death.{{citation needed|date=October 2025}}

=== Assassination plot ===
In April 2005, Israeli security services arrested three people whom the Shin Bet claimed were all members of the [[Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine]] (PFLP). They were accused of plotting to kill Yosef. One of the three,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/566096.html|title=PFLP members held in plot to assassinate Rabbi Ovadia Yossef|first=Amos|last=Harel|work=Haaretz|date=18 April 2005|access-date=26 April 2005|archive-date=26 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200426144727/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/566096.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison and three years' probation.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.haaretz.com/1.4886432  |title=East J'lem man gets 12 years in jail for plotting to kill Shas spiritual leader|work=Haaretz|date=15 December 2005}}</ref> A second man, [[Salah Hamouri]], said he was innocent of the charges, but accepted a sentence of seven years in exchange for admitting his guilt.

=== Family ===
{{Main|Yosef family}}

When Yosef was 24, he married the 17-year-old Margalit Fattal, who was born in Syria to Rabbi Avraham HaLevi Fattal. They had eleven children.<ref name=ny /><ref name=Globes>{{cite news|script-title=he:המשפחתון |language=he|trans-title=The Family|date=10 October 2013|pages=7|publisher=Globes}}</ref>
# [[Adina Bar-Shalom]] (b. 1946) is the founder of the first academic college for [[Haredi Judaism|Haredi]] women in Jerusalem. She studied design at the [[Shenkar College of Engineering and Design]] with her father's approval. 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 politician who served as a member of the [[Knesset]] for [[Shas]] between 1984 and 1988. He is the father of [[Yonatan Yosef]].
# Malca Sasson was a nursery teacher for over 30 years.
# [[Avraham Yosef]] (b. 1949) is the former [[Chief Rabbi]] of [[Holon]], Israel, and a Sephardi representative on the Chief Rabbinate Council (Moetzet Harabbanut Harashit).
# Yafa Cohen.
# [[Yitzhak Yosef]] (b. 1952) is the former Sephardi [[Chief Rabbi]] of Israel, also known as the [[Rishon LeZion (title)|Rishon LeZion]], the [[rosh yeshiva]] of [[Hazon Ovadia Yeshiva|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, Head of the Yabiya Omer Beit Midrash, and an [[Av Beit Din]] in Jerusalem. She is married to Mordechai Toledano.
# [[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.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tens of thousands gather again in Jerusalem in remembrance of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef |author=Jeremy Sharon |url=https://www.jpost.com/Jewish-World/Jewish-News/Tens-of-thousands-gather-again-in-Jerusalem-in-remembrance-of-Rabbi-Ovadia-Yosef-328617
 |newspaper=[[The Jerusalem Post]] |date=October 13, 2013}}</ref> On September 29, 2024, he was appointed to the role of Sephardic [[Chief Rabbi of Israel]], the [[Rishon LeZion (title)|Rishon LeZion]].
# Leah Butbul.
# [[Moshe Yosef (rabbi)|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]] [[Hechsher|kashrut agency]] and of the Maor Yisrael [[Talmud Torah|talmud torah]], which also publishes his father's works.

=== Final years and death ===
Yosef resided in Jerusalem's [[Har Nof]] neighbourhood.<ref name="times" /> He often wore tinted eyeglasses, as his eyes were very sensitive to light. These became a trademark of his.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Males |first=Rabbi Akiva |date=2017-12-07 |title=Gap Year Advice From Rav Ovadia Yosef, zt”l |url=https://jewishlink.news/gap-year-advice-from-rav-ovadia-yosef-zt-l/ |access-date=2024-01-21 |website=The Jewish Link |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref name="ny" /> He was called the [[Posek]] HaDor ("Posek of the present generation"), [[Gadol]] HaDor ("great/est (one of) the generation"), Maor Yisrael ("Light of Israel"), and [[Maran]].<ref name="arutzsheva">{{cite web|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/172597#.Ulc5yxZkBIA |title=Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, 'Greatest Rabbi of the Generation,' has Died |publisher=Arutz Sheva |date=7 October 2013}}</ref>

On January 13, 2013, Yosef collapsed during [[Shacharit]] at his synagogue in Har Nof and was having difficulty using his left hand. After being seen by a physician at his home, he was hospitalized at [[Hadassah Medical Center]] after suffering what was believed to be a minor [[stroke]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://matzav.com/chacham-ovadiah-yosef-hospitalized-after-suffering-light-stroke |title=Chacham Ovadiah Yosef Hospitalized After Suffering Light Stroke |publisher=matzav.com |date=13 January 2013}}</ref>

On September 21, 2013, because of his worsening health, Yosef was admitted to [[Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital]]. Two days after undergoing surgery for the implantation of a [[pacemaker]] on September 22, Yosef was sedated and placed on a [[respirator]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/172194|title=Doctors: 'We're Fighting for Rav Ovadia's Life'|first=Adam|last=Ross|date=24 September 2013|work=Israel National News|access-date=7 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jpost.com/Jewish-World/Jewish-News/Serious-decline-in-Rabbi-Ovadia-Yosefs-health-326878|title=Rabbi Ovadia Yosef remains in serious condition on respirator |first=Jeremy|last=Sharon|date=24 September 2013|work=The Jerusalem Post|access-date=7 October 2013}}</ref> He died in the hospital on October 7, 2013,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bouskila |first=Rabbi Daniel |date=2024-10-31 |title=Sephardic Torah from the Holy Land {{!}} Courageous Rabbinic Leader: Rav Ovadia Yosef z”l |url=https://jewishjournal.com/judaism/sephardic-torah/376344/courageous-rabbinic-leader-rav-ovadia-yosef-zl/ |access-date=2025-08-25 |website=Jewish Journal |language=en-US}}</ref> after a "general systemic failure".<ref name=times>{{cite web |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/intense-mourning-after-rabbi-ovadia-yosef-passes-away/|title=Intense mourning after death of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef|first1=Stuart|last1=Winer|first2=Mitch|last2=Ginsburg|date=7 October 2013|access-date=7 October 2013|work=The Times of Israel}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/ovadia-yosef-rabbi-israeli-kingmaker-dies-20490948 |title=Ovadia Yosef, Rabbi and Israeli Kingmaker, Dies|website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] }}</ref> His funeral in Jerusalem was the largest in Israel's history, with an estimated attendance of 850,000. Some religious authorities have said it may have been the largest in-gathering of Jews since the days of the Second Temple;<ref name=police>{{cite web |url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/172608#.UlMHglCoWYA|title=Police: Rabbi Yosef's Funeral Largest in Israel's History|first=David|last=Lev|work=[[Arutz Sheva|Israel National News]]|date=7 October 2013|access-date=7 October 2013}}</ref> other estimates put the number in attendance lower, between 273,000 and 450,000.<ref>[http://www.timesofisrael.com/experts-doubt-police-data-on-yosefs-funeral-attendance ‘Only’ 450,000 at Yosef funeral, some experts claim] By Adiv Sterman and Gavriel Fiske, October 9, 2013, [[Times of Israel]]</ref> Yosef was buried beside his wife in the [[Sanhedria Cemetery]].<ref name=police/> During the week-long ''[[Shiva (Judaism)|shiva]]'' mourning period, his family was expected to receive thousands of condolence callers in a mourning tent set up on their street, which police closed to vehicular traffic.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.haaretz.com/news/national/.premium-1.551312|title=Thousands throng to Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's home as mourning period begins|first=Yair|last=Ettinger|date=9 October 2013|access-date=9 October 2013|work=Haaretz}}</ref> Security guards were also posted at the cemetery, where Yosef's grave became a pilgrimage site for thousands of people.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/172670|title=What Rabbi Yosef Left Behind|first=Yoni|last=Kempinski|date=9 October 2013|access-date=9 October 2013|work=Israel National News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jpost.com/National-News/Thousands-flock-to-pay-respects-at-Rabbi-Yosefs-Jerusalem-grav-328206|title=Thousands flock to pay respects at Rabbi Yosef's Jerusalem grave |first=Daniel K. |last=Eisenbud|date=9 October 2013|access-date=9 October 2013|work=The Jerusalem Post}}</ref>

== 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 [[Halakha|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 [[Mizrahi Jews]] (Jews from the Middle East) in Israeli society, who historically suffered from discrimination and were generally of lower socioeconomic status than their [[Ashkenazi]] counterparts.

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 Yosef attaches to the rulings of Rabbi [[Yosef Karo]]. According to Yosef's approach, Karo is crowned as the [[Rabbi#Authority|Mara D'Atra]] of the [[Land of Israel]], and thus all Jews living within his realm of authority are bound by his rulings.<ref>Lau, B: ''"From 'Maran' to 'Maran'"'' (Hebrew), page 14. Miskal – Yedioth Ahronoth Books and Chemed Books, 2005.</ref> Yosef says this explicitly and strongly in [[Yalkut Yosef]] (note that 'Maran' refers to Yosef Karo):

{{Cquote | Even if a hundred [[acharonim]] disagree with him...no teacher is permitted to rule with [[chumra]] contrary 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.}}

Some disagreement persists over exactly whom Yosef considers bound by Karo's rulings.

Rabbi [[Ratzon Arusi]] argues that Yosef distinguishes between his ideal and reality. Ideally, all Jews of the Land of Israel should be bound by Karo's rulings, but practicality dictates that [[Sephardic]] and [[Mizrahi Jews|Mizrahi]] Jews should unite under them first. As Arusi puts it:

{{Cquote|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.<ref>Arusi, R: ''"The Clash of Laws in the Intercommunal Halakhic Ruling in Israel"'', Doctoral Thesis, Bar-Illan University.</ref>
}}

Tzvi Zohar argues that Yosef adopts a [[melting pot]] approach, in that he seeks to unify the traditions of all Jews in Israel, Sephardic and Ashkenazi alike. Zohar claims that Yosef's main distinction is not between Ashkenazim and Sephardim but between the Land of Israel and the Diaspora. In his view, Yosef seeks to apply Karo's rulings to the entire Land of Israel, but not necessarily outside it. According to Zohar, this represents an anti-Diaspora and "anti-Colonialist" approach, since it seeks to strip the various immigrant communities of their traditions from their countries of origin and replace them with the custom of the Land of Israel, rather than importing and implanting foreign customs in Israel. He compares Yosef and religious reformers such as [[Martin Luther]] and [[Muhammad ibn Abd-al-Wahhab]], and claims that Yosef has adopted a religious restorative-reformist worldview. Specifically, he argues that Yosef's halakhic approach is not, as Yosef attempts to portray it, a return to a traditional form of Sephardic ruling, but rather an innovative formulation of a particular Sephardic approach to Halakha that Yosef himself fashioned.<ref>Zohar, T: Hairu Pnei Hamizrach (Hebrew), page 351. Hakibutz HaMeuhad.</ref>

Rabbi [[Binyamin Lau]] disagrees with both of the preceding interpretations. According to Lau, Yosef claims that all Sephardic Jews accepted Karo's rulings 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 Karo's rulings. Lau views Yosef as operating on two fronts: the first against the Ashkenazi leadership that seeks to apply Ashkenazi rulings and customs to the Sephardim, and the second against the Sephardic and Mizrahi communities, in demanding that they unite under Karo's rulings.<ref>Lau, B: ''"From 'Maran' to 'Maran'"''. Miskal – Yedioth Ahronoth Books and Chemed Books, 2005.</ref>

In any case, it is agreed that alongside the conservative aspects of his approach to Halacha there are also significant reforms: his preference for Karo's rulings and his preference for leniency over [[chumra]]. The fulfillment of his Halakhic vision has entailed significant clashes with his Ashkenazi counterparts. Of his predecessors in the Tel Aviv-Yafo Rabbinate, Yosef wrote:

{{Cquote|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 [[Gaon (Hebrew)|Gaon]] Rabbi [[Benzion Uziel]] [[Z"l]] was subordinate to the Gaon Rabbi [[Avraham Yitzhak Kook]] Z"l...and the Gaon Rabbi [[Yaakov Moshe Toledano]] Z"l in his capacity as Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv-Yafo could not even raise his head towards his colleague, may he be chosen for a good life, the Gaon Rabbi [[Isser Yehuda Unterman]] [[Shlit"a]] and 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.
}}

=== {{anchor|Kocha D'hetera Adif (leniency)|Kocha D'hetera Adif}} Preference for leniency ===
Yosef adopted the Talmudic dictum "The power of leniency is greater". Therefore, one of his fundamental principles of halakhic ruling is that lenient rulings should be preferred over [[chumra]]. Yosef saw this as one of the distinguishing characteristics of the Sephardic approach to Halakha versus the Ashkenazi approach. In one ruling, he quoted Rabbi [[Chaim Joseph David Azulai]] as saying:

{{Cquote|The Sephardim are characterized by the quality of [[Chesed|kindness]], and therefore are lenient in the Halakha, and the Ashkenazim are characterized by the quality of power,<ref>Referring to the [[sefirah]] of [[Gevurah]] (strength), also known as Din (strict judgment).</ref> and therefore they rule strictly.
}}

Yosef considered this principle an ideal, so that if

{{Cquote|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 lack of familiarity with the [[Mishnah]], [[Talmud]], and poskim. In a 1970 article about Rabbi [[Jacob Saul Elyashar]], Yosef wrote:

{{Cquote|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 people not to comply with the Halakha. In Yabia Omer, he writes: "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 widows of IDF soldiers, even unrecoverable soldiers, would not be unable to remarry.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shamah |first=David |date=2013-10-07 |title=Ovadia Yosef, outspoken spiritual leader of Israel's Sephardi Jews, dies at 93 |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/ovadia-yosef-outspoken-spiritual-leader-of-israels-sephardi-jews-dies-at-93/ |access-date=2025-08-25 |work=The Times of Israel |language=en-US |issn=0040-7909}}</ref>
* 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.<ref name="ShutYabiaOmer">''Shut Yabia Omer'', part 7, Even haEzer 6; addressed to Rabbi Grubner of Detroit, Michigan</ref><ref name="OpenBeitMidrash">{{cite web |url=https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/84588.74?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en |title= Open Beit Midrash: Perspectives on Mamzerim, From Sinai to the Knesset |author=Talia Westberg |publisher=Sefaria }}</ref>

==== 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 [[priestly benediction]] by [[Kohanim]] who do not have a religious lifestyle, and a [[shaliach tzibur]] or person performing a [[Torah reading]] who shaves with a razor.

=== 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:

{{Cquote|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 [[Ari zal]], provided that these do not contradict rulings by Karo. In some instances, particularly in Jewish prayer, Yosef championed Kabbalistic considerations - even at the expense of Karo's rulings. Nevertheless, in many cases, he came out strongly against the rulings, saying, "We have no business with mysticism", and rejecting rulings based upon the [[Zohar]], and the Kabbalah more generally. This position is contrary to many (but not all) traditional long-standing Sephardic rulings on Halakha, including by many Sephardic poskim to this day. In contrast with the position of Rabbi [[Chaim Joseph David Azulai]], who wrote that, "None may reply after the Ari" (that is, none may dispute the rulings of the Ari), Yosef argues that no special weight should be attached to the rulings of the Ari, and the ordinary principles of Halakhic ruling should continue to apply. He wrote:

{{Cquote|As is written in the book Iggrot HaTanya in the name of the [[Gaon of Vilna]] who does not believe that the Kabbalah of the Ari in its entirety is wholly from the mouth of Elijah z"l, (but rather) only a small portion is from the mouth of Elijah z"l, and the rest is from his great knowledge, and it is not required to believe it...and thus wrote Rabbi [[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?<ref name="Y.O.">Yabia Omer 2, O.C. 25.</ref>
}}

Yosef's attitude towards the Kabbalah, the rulings of the Ari, and consequently the rulings of the [[Yosef Hayyim|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 [[minhagim]] and traditions which are not well anchored in the Halakha. For example, he expressed opposition to two minhagim observed in the Synagogues of North African Jewry: standing during the reading of the [[Ten Commandments]], and the involvement of the congregation in certain parts of the prayer service. His attempts to change popular and deeply rooted traditions have led to opposition to his approach among some North African Rabbis.

[[Breslov (Hasidic dynasty)|Breslov Hasidim]] have the custom of going on a [[Rosh Hashana kibbutz (Breslov)|pilgrimage]] to the tomb of [[Rebbe]] [[Nachman of Breslov]] in [[Uman]] for [[Rosh Hashanah]]. Yosef has been highly critical of this practice, and has stated:

{{Cquote|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nrg.co.il/online/11/ART1/624/630.html |title=HaRav Ovadia Yossef: Do not visit the grave of Rebbe Nachman in Uman |work=Maariv |date=20 August 2007 |author=Avishai ben Chayim |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071120104736/http://www.nrg.co.il/online/11/ART1/624/630.html |archive-date=November 20, 2007 }}</ref>
}}

== Attitude towards the State of Israel and its citizens ==

=== Ethiopian Jews ===
Ovadia Yosef is often regarded as the pivotal force behind bringing [[Ethiopian Jews]] to Israel. In the 1970s, Yosef ruled that Ethiopian Jews were halachically Jewish and campaigned for the Ethiopian aliyah to Israel.  [[Pnina Tamano-Shata]] said of Yosef: "I started crying, probably in gratitude to all that he's done, the humane form of address, 'our brothers.' He was also a leader. He called on the authorities to save Ethiopia's Jews and bring them to Israel. It shows his great love for others."<ref>[https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4438268,00.html 'Thanks to him I'm here': How Rabbi Yosef brought Ethiopians to Israel] Ilana Curiel, Published:10.08.13, Ynet</ref>

=== Attitude to Zionism ===

Yosef held a Halakhically ambivalent view towards Zionism as the [[Atchalta D'Geulah]] (beginning of the redemption). Many [[Religious Zionism|Religious Zionists]], in contrast, view Israel as the first flowering of the redemption. In a Halakhic ruling regarding [[Yom Haatzmaut|Israeli Independence Day]], Yosef acknowledged that the Jewish people experienced a miracle with the establishment of the State of Israel; however, since the miracle did not include all of the Jewish people,

{{Cquote|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 [[anti-Zionist]], Yosef responded:

{{Cquote|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?<ref name="arutzsheva"/>
}}

In 2010, Yosef and Shas' [[Moetzet Chachamei HaTorah]] (Council of [Wise] Torah Sages) approved Shas' membership in the [[World Zionist Organization]], making Shas the first officially Zionist Haredi party in Israel.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel/Consternation-surrounds-Shas-joining-Zionist-group |title=Consternation surrounds Shas joining Zionist group |publisher=The Jerusalem Post |date=28 May 2010}}</ref>

=== 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 [[Torah Ark]] is opened, Yosef blesses "mi sheberech" for IDF soldiers. Yosef's son, Rabbi [[Avraham Yosef]], served in the IDF as a military Rabbi for 13 years.

=== 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:

{{Cquote|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 [[Mizrahi Jews]] who practice aspects of Judaism as a tradition (known as [[Masortiyim]], not to be confused with [[Conservative Judaism]], which is sometimes called Masorti Judaism). Yosef sought to bring this demographic closer to the Torah, while relying upon traditional Jewish sources for his rulings. For example, he ruled that those who desecrate the [[Sabbath]] are not to be considered as having abandoned the Torah, and therefore if they have touched wine, it remains Kosher. This sort of ruling differs from Ashkenazi Haredi rulings. Yosef actively aims to engage in [[Kiruv]], while still strictly adhering to [[Halacha]].

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.<ref>"Freedom Liberty and Rabbi Ovadia Yosef" by Ariel Picard, Havruta, Issue 2, Fall 2008, page 65-66</ref>

=== 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:

{{Cquote|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 [[dina d'malchuta dina]] ('the law of the land is the law'), and therefore, it is forbidden to engage in criminal conduct such as [[tax fraud]]. It is only in civil matters that he forbade going to the Israeli courts.

In February 1999, Yosef caused a controversy by strongly criticizing the [[Supreme Court of Israel]]:{{citation needed|date=October 2013}}

{{Cquote|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 [[Niddah|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|date=October 2013}}

{{Cquote|The words of Rabbi Yosef are harsh. The content is hurtful. It harms the confidence of his followers in this court. Neither a [[gadol]] in the Torah nor a political leader [should] speak thus. This is not the message that a former [[Dayan (rabbinic judge)|dayan]] – who knows and understands the complexity of judicial work – needs to be sending to the community...
}}

=== Political activity ===

==== Government influence ====
{{Conservatism in Israel|Politicians}}
In 1990, 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]]. Shamir, a member of the [[Likud Party]], refused to make any commitments.

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 (Israeli politician)|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 [[Labor (Israel)|Labor Party]]. The bold move, engineered but opposed by Shas chairman [[Aryeh Deri]], backfired when the highly respected [[Ashkenazic Jews|Ashkenazi]] rosh yeshiva (dean) of the [[Ponevezh Yeshiva]] in [[Bnei Brak]], Rabbi [[Elazar Shach]] (who subsequently founded the [[Degel HaTorah]] party) fiercely commanded Yosef to return Shas to the coalition with the Likud. During this time, Yosef was severely criticised by other major members of the Haredi religious community in Israel, particular the Ashkenazic Jews who generally sided with the Likud and the right in opposition to the perceived secularist tendencies of Labour and the left.

The failure of the scheme, known as [[the stinking trick]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=90197&displayTypeCd=1&sideCd=1&contrassID=2|title=Rabbi Schach – a man of wars and battles|work=Haaretz|year=2001|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040830235835/http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=90197&displayTypeCd=1&sideCd=1&contrassID=2|archive-date=2004-08-30}}</ref> was responsible for Peres' downfall as leader of Labour, and his 1991 defeat in internal elections to former Defense Minister [[Yitzhak Rabin]]. From the 1980s until his death, Yosef approved the participation by Shas in most Israeli governments, except for the last two governments of [[Ariel Sharon]] from January 2003 and August 2005. In that Knesset (2003-2006), Shas was one of the few parties to have been in the opposition for the duration of that Knesset's term, along with the leftist Meretz party 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 demanded the creation of a government without Shas.

[[File:Ovadia Yosef, 2007.jpg|thumb|200px|Ovadia Yosef in 2007]]

In the [[2007 Israeli presidential election|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/867038.html|title=Yishai tells Peres: Rabbi Ovadia has decided to support you for president|first1=Yair|last1=Ettinger|first2=Mazal|last2=Mualem|first3=Shahar|last3=Ilan|work=Haaretz|date=5 June 2007|access-date=7 October 2013|archive-date=1 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001030124/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/867038.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==== Cultural influence ====
In a 2004 article by ''[[Maariv]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nrg.co.il/online/11/ART/766/967.html|title=NRG יהדות גאה להציג: 20 הרבנים החשובים|trans-title=NRG Judaism is Proud to Present: 20 Influential Rabbis|language=he|work=[[Maariv]]|date=12 August 2004|access-date=7 September 2004|archive-date=26 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170726222706/http://www.nrg.co.il/online/11/ART/766/967.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Yosef was listed as one of the most influential rabbis in Israel. He was described as:

{{Cquote|The spiritual leader of Shas. The man most identified with the honorific title ''[[maran]]''. 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. [[Jewish services|Jewish prayers]] according to Yosef's [[posek|verdicts]] are the most common in Sephardic [[synagogue]]s, and his halakhic books gained circulation beyond compare. Almost no one disputes the fact he is a [[Torah]] phenomenon, 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 [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict]], and had done so since the late 1980s. His main justification was the halakhic principle of ''[[Self-sacrifice in Jewish law|Pikuach Nefesh]]'', in which all the Jewish commandments (excluding [[adultery]], [[idolatry]], and [[murder]]) are put on hold if a life is put in danger. Using an argument first articulated by the late American rabbinical leader [[Joseph Soloveitchik]], Yosef claimed that the Arab–Israeli conflict endangers human lives, thereby meeting the above criteria and overruling the priority of commandments pertaining to settling the land of Israel.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jcpa.org/jl/vp439.htm |title=Interpretations of Jewish Tradition on Democracy, Land and Peace|first=Gerald M. |last=Steinberg|publisher=[[Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs]]|date=2 October 2000|access-date=7 October 2013}}</ref> Therefore, Israel is permitted—even obligated if saving lives is a definitive outcome—to make serious efforts to reach a peace settlement, as well as to make arrangements to properly protect its citizens.<ref>Rav Ovadia Yossef. "Ceding Territory of the Land of Israel in Order to Save Lives", ''Tehumim'' Vol. 10, 1989</ref><ref>Rav Ovadia Yossef. "Ceding Territory of the Land of Israel in Order to Save Lives", ''Crossroads: Halacha and the Modern World'' Vol. 3, 1990</ref> Yosef first applied the ''Pikuach Nefesh'' principle to Israel's conflicts with its neighbors in 1979, when he ruled that this argument granted Israel authority to return the [[Sinai Peninsula]] to Egypt. Some claimed, however, that the ruling was also motivated by Yosef's desire to oppose his Ashkenazi colleague, Rabbi Shlomo Goren.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/israel_studies/v005/5.2yuchtman-yaar.html |title=Shas: The Haredi-Dovish Image in a Changing Reality|first1=Ephraim |last1=Yuchtman-Yaar |first2=Tamar |last2=Hermann|journal=Israel Studies|volume=5|issue=2|date=Fall 2000|pages=32–77|doi=10.1353/is.2000.0031|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

Using this precedent, Yosef instructed Shas to join Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's government coalition, and later that of [[Ehud Barak]] as well. 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]].

In 2005, Yosef repeatedly condemned the [[Israel's unilateral disengagement plan|Gaza Disengagement]]. He argued that he was opposed to any unilateral action that occurred outside the framework of a peace agreement. 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.<ref>[http://www.jafi.org.il/education/actual/conflict/disengagement/5.html Engaging Disengagement- Knesset Faction Positions on the Disengagement] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091225052332/http://www.jafi.org.il/education/actual/conflict/disengagement/5.html |date=2009-12-25 }} by the [[Jewish Agency]]</ref> 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]].

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fmep.org/analysis/articles/planning_for_jerusalem_in_a_changing_political_world.html|title=Planning for Jerusalem in a Changing Political World|publisher=Foundation for Middle East Peace|date=5 April 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080807173718/http://www.fmep.org/analysis/articles/planning_for_jerusalem_in_a_changing_political_world.html|archive-date=7 August 2008}}</ref>

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".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3752180,00.html |title=Rabbi Ovadia slams US: We're not their slaves|first=Kobi |last=Nahshoni|date=26 July 2009|work=Ynetnews|access-date=6 June 2012}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/184878 |title=Report; Rabbi Yosef Supports Jerusalem Freeze|work=Israel National News |date=22 April 2010 |access-date=6 June 2012}}</ref>

== {{anchor|Halakhic authority}} Halakhic rulings ==

Yosef is generally considered one of the leading [[Halakha|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]], [[Yaakov de Castro|Maharikash]], and other opinions, that the [[Beta Israel|Ethiopian Beta Israel]] were full Jews and should be brought to Israel. He was later joined by a number of other authorities who made similar rulings, including the Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi [[Shlomo Goren]] who took rulings from [[Abraham Isaac Kook]], and other poskim.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/ejhist.html#authentic |title=The History of Ethiopian Jews |work=[[Jewish Virtual Library]] |date=29 August 2013 |access-date=7 October 2013}}</ref> Other notable [[poskim]], from [[Non-Zionism|non-Zionist]] [[Ashkenazim|Ashkenazi]] circles, preferred a Giyur l'chumra which served as a protective measure, for the Ethiopian Jews to [[Mikveh|immerse]] themselves before immigrating, to avoid any doubt.<ref>{{cite book |script-title=he:ציץ אליעזר|language=he|trans-title=Tzitz Eliezer|first=Rabbi Eliezer |last=Waldenberg|title=Requested Sefer not found |author-link=Eliezer Waldenberg|url=https://www.hebrewbooks.org/download.aspx?req=14516 |volume=17|page=105}}</ref><ref>Michael Ashkenazi, Alex Weingrod. ''Ethiopian Jews and Israel'', Transaction Publishers, 1987, p. 30, footnote 4.</ref>
* 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 [[Second Intifada|intifada]], this opinion was later retracted.<ref>[http://www.fmep.org/reports/vol13/no3/05-settlement_timeline.html Settlement Timeline] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927200045/http://www.fmep.org/reports/vol13/no3/05-settlement_timeline.html |date=2007-09-27 }}, Foundation for Middle East Peace</ref>
* Supported the [[Shmita#Heter mechira|sale of the land]] during the [[Shmita|Sabbatical]] year, following the Sephardic tradition.
* That it is prohibited for fellow Jews to ascend the [[Temple Mount]] in Jerusalem, in this day and age, due to its extreme sanctity and the people's inability to purify themselves with the ash-water of the [[Red Heifer]].<ref>[[Ovadiah Yosef]], Questions & Responsa ''Yabia' 'Omer'', part 5, ''responsum'' # 15, end of letter "beth" ({{OCLC|959573257}}); ibid, ''responsum'' # 26; Ovadiah Yosef, Questions & Responsa ''Yeḥaveh Da'at'', part 1, ''responsum'' # 25 ({{OCLC|13159493}}); [[Yitzhak Yosef]], ''Yalqūt Yosef'', Section Mo'adim, ''Hil. Chol Ha-Mo'ed'', §4 ({{OCLC|16128842}})</ref>
* Ordered the Shas political party to vote in favour of a law recognizing [[brain death]] as death for legal purposes. The Ashkenazi Haredi political party [[United Torah Judaism]] voted against the law on instructions from their spiritual leader Rabbi [[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 [[agunah|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 women have the practice of wearing sheitels for this purpose.)

== Controversial statements ==
Yosef made countless political remarks that aroused controversy. His supporters said that statements deemed offensive to various groups and individuals were taken out of context,<ref name="elhanan8"/><ref name="murphy7"/><ref name="goldberg8"/><ref name="ynet" /><ref name="ynet2" /> but the [[American Jewish Committee]] and the [[Anti-Defamation League]] condemned what they termed his "hate speech".<ref name="Oster">{{cite web|url=https://jta.org/news/article/2010/10/18/2741341/rabbi-yosef-non-jews-exist-to-serve-jews|title=Sephardi leader Yosef: Non-Jews exist to serve Jews|first=Marcy|last=Oster|date=18 October 2010|work=[[Jewish Telegraphic Agency]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501130740/http://www.jta.org/news/article/2010/10/18/2741341/rabbi-yosef-non-jews-exist-to-serve-jews|archive-date=1 May 2013}}</ref><ref name=slams>{{cite web |work=Haaretz|date=20 October 2010|title=ADL Slams Shas Spiritual Leader for Saying Non-Jews 'Were Born to Serve Jews|url=https://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/adl-slams-shas-spiritual-leader-for-saying-non-jews-were-born-to-serve-jews-1.320235|first=Natasha|last=Mozgovaya|quote=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."}}</ref> He claimed [[the Holocaust]] was God's retribution against the reincarnated souls of Jewish sinners.<ref name="cnn">{{cite web |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2000/WORLD/meast/08/06/israel.holocaust.ap/ |publisher=CNN.com |title=Israeli rabbi stirs uproar by saying Holocaust victims were reincarnated sinners |date=August 6, 2000|quote=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|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/869553.stm |publisher=[[BBC]] |title=Rabbi tones down Holocaust slur |date=7 August 2000}}</ref><ref>[https://www.jpost.com/Israel/Ovadia-Yosef-Shoah-victims-reincarnated-sinners 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."</ref> He claimed that Israeli soldiers were killed in battle on account of their non-observance of Torah law.<ref name=dani>[http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3442321,00.html 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 &ndash; so is it any wonder that they are killed? No, it's not."</ref> He was criticised for supporting the traditional role of women and minimising their capabilities.<ref name="jpost.com">[https://www.jpost.com/Jewish-World/Jewish-News/Rabbi-Ovadia-Women-should-stick-to-cooking-sewing 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.""</ref><ref>[http://news.nana10.co.il/Article/?ArticleID=786226 Rabbi Ovadia Yosef on Women's Day] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304131302/http://news.nana10.co.il/Article/?ArticleID=786226 |date=2016-03-04 }} 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."</ref> After [[Hurricane Katrina]] in 2005, he blamed the tragedy on U.S. support for the [[Gaza disengagement]] and on a general lack of Torah study in the area where the hurricane occurred.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3138779,00.html |title=Rabbi: Hurricane punishment for pullout |work=Ynetnews |date=7 September 2005 |first=Zvi|last=Alush|access-date=7 October 2013|quote=There was a [[tsunami]] and there are terrible natural disasters, because there isn’t enough Torah study... 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 these 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). [[Supernatural attributions of Hurricane Katrina|It was God's retribution]]...God does not short-change anyone.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/newscontent.php3?artid=11367 |title=Nature's Wrath, Or God's |archive-date=November 20, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051120105659/http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/newscontent.php3?artid=11367 |date=September 16, 2005 |publisher=[[The Jewish Week]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=622278 |title=Shas rabbi: Hurricane is Bush's punishment for pullout support |agency=Associated Press |date=7 September 2005}}</ref> In 2009, he said of [[Yisrael Beitenu]] and its leader, "whoever votes for [[Avigdor Lieberman]] gives strength to Satan".<ref>[http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3668135,00.html Rabbi Yosef: Lieberman voters support Satan], [[Ynet]], 02.07.09.</ref><ref>[https://www.haaretz.com/news/shas-rabbi-yosef-voting-for-lieberman-gives-strength-to-satan-1.269619 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."</ref>

=== Recommendations of the Plesner Committee ===
{{See also|Plesner Committee|Tal committee}}

In 2013, Yosef called for yeshiva students to emigrate from Israel rather than agree to serve in the army, stating:

{{Cquote|God forbid, we will be compelled to leave the land of Israel...in order to free the yeshiva students (from being drafted).<ref>[http://www.timesofisrael.com/shas-spiritual-leader-calls-on-haredim-to-emigrate-rather-than-join-army Shas spiritual leader calls on Haredim to emigrate rather than join army] By Asher Zeiger January 7, 2013, [[Times of Israel]]</ref>
}}

In October 2013, immediately after Ovadia Yosef's death, his son [[David Yosef]] told the Prime Minister that the drafting of Haredi students into the army had hurt him in his final months more than his physical illnesses.<ref>[https://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/Yosefs-son-to-Netanyhau-Haredi-draft-hurt-dad-more-than-his-ailments-328166 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</ref>

=== {{anchor|Remarks regarding Arabs and Palestinians}} Arabs and Palestinians ===

In 2001, Yosef was quoted as saying of the Arabs:

{{Cquote|It is forbidden to be merciful to them. You must send missiles to them and annihilate them. They are evil and damnable.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B01E5DD1730F936A25751C1A9629C8B63 |title=On the Air, Palestinians Soften Tone on Israelis|first=Greg |last=Myre|work=The New York Times|date=15 December 2004}}</ref>
}}

Yosef later said that his sermon was misquoted, that he was referring to annihilation of [[Islamic terrorism]], not all Arabs.<ref name="ynet">{{cite web|url=http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-1224628,00.html |script-title=he:הרב עובדיה יוסף הבהיר לעיתונות הערבית את 'נאום הנחשים' |trans-title=Rabbi Ovadia Yosef Calls the Arab Newspapers the "Speech of Snakes"|language=he|first1=Avishai|last1=Ben Chaim|first2=Eli|last2=Vaked|work=Ynetnews|date=22 October 2001|access-date=6 June 2012}}</ref> He called for improving the living conditions of the [[Arab citizens of Israel|Arab people in Israel]] and said he had deep respect for peace-seeking Arabs.<ref name="ynet2">{{cite web|url=http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/1,7340,L-1226848,00.html |script-title=he:הראיון המלא עם הרב עובדיה יוסף |trans-title=Full Interview with Rabbi Ovadia Yosef|language=he|work=Ynetnews|date=22 October 2001|access-date=6 June 2012}}</ref>

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

{{Cquote|all the nasty people who hate Israel, like [[Mahmoud Abbas|Abu Mazen (Abbas)]], vanish from our world...May God strike them down with the plague along with all the nasty Palestinians who persecute Israel.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-11127409 |title=Israel rabbi calls for 'plague' on Mahmoud Abbas |publisher=BBC |date=30 August 2010}}</ref>
}}

[[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, saying that Yosef's words "do not reflect my approach, or the stand of the Israeli government".<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=186372 |title=PM pulls back from Yosef's words |work=The Jerusalem Post |date=29 August 2010|first1=Herb|last1=Keinon|author-link1=Herb Keinon|first2=Khaled |last2=Abu Toameh|first3=Jonah|last3=Mandel}}</ref>

Yosef said he regretted his statements, and was said to have looked for a way to sending the Palestinians a conciliatory message.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/ovadia-yosef-atones-to-mubarak-after-declaring-palestinians-should-die-1.314243 |title=Ovadia Yosef atones to Mubarak after declaring Palestinians should die|first=Yair |last=Ettinger|work=Haaretz|date=16 September 2010|access-date=7 October 2013}}</ref> Three weeks later, he 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 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" and 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".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=188365 |title=Ovadia Yosef 'blesses' peace partners in letter|first=Jonah|last=Mandel|work=The Jerusalem Post|date=16 September 2010}}</ref>

=== Remarks about gentiles ===
In an October 2010 sermon, Yosef said, "the sole purpose of [[non-Jews]] is to serve Jews".<ref name="Oster" /><ref name="slams" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishNews/Article.aspx?id=191782 |title=Yosef: Gentiles exist only to serve Jews |access-date=October 18, 2010 |archive-date=October 20, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101020044210/http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishNews/Article.aspx?id=191782 |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref> He also said:
<blockquote>[[Goyim]] were born only to serve us. Without that, they have no place in the world – only to serve the People of Israel.<ref name=jpost>[https://web.archive.org/web/20101020044210/http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishNews/Article.aspx?id=191782 Yosef: Gentiles exist only to serve Jews], Jonah Mandel, 18.10.2010, [[The Jerusalem Post]]</ref>

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.

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.<ref name="jpost" /> </blockquote>

== 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 ''[[Kaf Ha'Chaim]]'' by Rabbi [[Yaakov Chaim Sofer]] after the author's death. Two sets of Yosef's ''responsa'' have been published, ''Yabia Omer'' and ''Yechaveh Da'at'' (both titles are references to [[Psalms|Psalm]] 19). His ''responsa'' are noted for citing almost every source regarding a specific topic and are often referred to simply as indices of rulings. There is also another series of books under the title of ''Hazon Ovadia'' (not to be mistaken with the original books, which were responsa on Passover), which he has written concerning laws of ''[[Shabbat]]'', holidays, and other topics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.isefer.com/SearchAction.asp?extra=mrn&SearchType=Author&term=Ovadia|title=Product Search: Rabbi Ovadia Yosef|year=2002|publisher=isefer.com|access-date=7 October 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150225064205/http://www.isefer.com/SearchAction.asp?extra=mrn&SearchType=Author&term=Ovadia|archive-date=25 February 2015}}</ref>

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 [[Yitzhak Yosef]] has published a widely read codification of Yosef's rulings, ''[[Yalkut Yosef]]''. Another son, [[David Yosef]], has printed various [[siddur]]im and liturgy according to his father's rulings, and another halachic compendium, ''[[Halachah Berurah]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.isefer.com/SearchAction.asp?SearchType=Author&term=David%20yosef|title=Product Search: Rabbi David Yosef|year=2002|publisher=isefer.com|access-date=7 October 2013|archive-date=4 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104000146/http://www.isefer.com/SearchAction.asp?SearchType=Author&term=David%20yosef|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1970, Yosef was awarded the [[Israel Prize]] for Rabbinical literature.<ref name=prize>{{cite web| title=Israel Prize Official Site – Recipients in 1970|language=he|url=http://cms.education.gov.il/EducationCMS/Units/PrasIsrael/Tashkag/Tashlab_Tashkag_Rikuz.htm?DictionaryKey=Tashal}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Biography|Judaism}}
* [[Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah]], the [[Sephardic Haredim]] Council of wise [[Torah]] Sages
* [[Isaac Sacca]]
* [[Avraham Yosef]]
* [[Yaakov Yosef]]
* [[Salah Hamouri]]

{{s-start}}
{{succession box|title=[[Chief Rabbi#Sephardi|Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel]]<br />Ovadia Yosef |before=[[Yitzhak Nissim]]||after=[[Mordechai Eliyahu]]|years=1973&ndash;1983}}
{{s-end}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em

|refs=
<ref name="elhanan8">{{cite web|author=Elhanan Miller|title=For Arabs, Ovadia Yosef left bitter memories|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/for-arabs-ovadia-yosef-left-bitter-memories/|work=[[Times of Israel]]|access-date=9 October 2013|date=8 October 2013}}</ref><ref name="murphy7">{{cite web|author=Dan Murphy|title=Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, in his own words|url=https://news.yahoo.com/rabbi-ovadia-yosef-own-words-192415938.html|work=[[Christian Science Monitor]]|access-date=9 October 2013|date=7 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131009121429/http://news.yahoo.com/rabbi-ovadia-yosef-own-words-192415938.html |archive-date=9 October 2013 |quote=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."}}</ref><ref name="goldberg8">{{cite web|author=Jeffrey Goldberg|title=Remembering Ovadia Yosef, the Israeli Ayatollah|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-08/remembering-ovadia-yosef-the-israeli-ayatollah.html|work=[[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg]]|access-date=9 October 2013|date=8 October 2013|quote=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 ....}}</ref>

}}

== 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
* Schramm, Netta. (2024). Was Rabbi Ovadia Yosef a Protofeminist? A Look at His Oral Sermons. ''Women in Judaism: A Multidisciplinary E-Journal'', ''20''(1), 1–23. https://doi.org/10.33137/wij.v20i1.43959
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001239/http://www.yctorah.org/component/option%2Ccom_docman/task%2Cdoc_download/gid%2C303/ ''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]
* [http://www.hashkafah.com/index.php?showtopic=5135 Review of the Chen and Pfeffer book by Rabbi Benjamin Lau (Friday, October 1, 2004 Ha'aretz)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080112020928/http://www.hashkafah.com/index.php?showtopic=5135 |date=January 12, 2008 }}
* 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.&nbsp;120–149.
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160201115438/http://www.yctorah.org/content/view/211/10/ Marc Shapiro article]

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikiquote}}
*[http://maran1.com/ Maran – a website containing videos of sermons given by Rabbi Ovadia Yosef] {{in lang|he}}
*[http://halachayomit.co.il/EnglishDefault.asp Halacha Yomit – a website containing daily Halacha given by Rabbi Ovadia Yosef]
*[https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Security-Watch/Backchannels/2013/1007/Rabbi-Ovadia-Yosef-in-his-own-words "Rabbi Ovadia Yosef - in His Own Words - An article by the Christian Science Monitor]
*[http://pizmonim.com/hazzan.php?hazzan=OYosef Sephardic Pizmonim Project- Obadia Yosef Biography page with his personal pizmonim recordings]
*[http://rygb.blogspot.com/2014/08/to-begin-to-appreciate-rav-ovadia.html Article about Rabbi Yosef's method of psak (by Rabbi Yosef Gavriel Bechhofer)] 
*[https://meshiv.co.il/en/espedim/rabbi-ovadia-dream-about-the-messiah-all-the-details/ Rabbi Ovadia Yosef’s Dream of the Messiah: Details and Facts] 
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{{s-bef|before=[[Yitzhak Nissim]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Chief Rabbinate of Israel#Sephardi 2|Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel]]|years=1973–1983}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Mordechai Eliyahu]]}}
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{{Chief Rabbinate of Israel}}
{{Porat Yosef Yeshiva}}
{{Mizrahi Jews topics}}{{Acharonim}}{{Authority control}}

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[[Category:Ovadia Yosef| ]]
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