Rabbi Ovadia Yosef dies
The influential spiritual leader of Israel's Sephardic Jewish community and the ultra-Orthodox Shas party has died at a Jerusalem hospital, a spokesman said.
Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, 93, underwent heart surgery at Jerusalem's Hadassah hospital on September 23 where he had remained since then, with doctors saying just days ago his condition had improved.
But late on Sunday, the hospital said his condition had suddenly worsened, with medics confirming it as critical on Monday.
"After a long struggle, the rabbi died just a few moments ago," the hospital spokesman told public radio on Monday.
Yosef, whose son Yitzhak Yosef was elected chief rabbi of Israel's Sephardic Jews in June, a post he himself had previously held, had been in and out of hospital for months.
He wielded enormous influence among Israeli Jews of Middle Eastern and North African ancestry, and had frequently been a kingmaker in the country's fickle coalition politics.
Shas was a member of successive governing coalitions before going into opposition after the last general election in January.
Read More : http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4432812,00.html
He also made a great bacon sandwhich
He was not my cup of tea, but he did a lot for his country..
Now he is gone.. So, what use saying bad things about him..
Are we allowed here to talk about Jews in good light?
A true kingmaker. Old time leader of the Shas party and great influence on Israeli politics. – not many left now.
He was the one that allowed the Falash to immigrate to Israel through the Law of Return.
May he rest in peace.
I blame the evil Israelis for his death and for American supporting them, despite the suffering for all concerns. When will these people learn to keep their nose out of others business.