Jerusalem - Rabbi
Ovadia Yosef, the religious scholar and spiritual leader of Israel’s Sephardic
Jews who transformed his downtrodden community of immigrants from North Africa
and Arab nations and their descendants into a powerful force in Israeli
politics, died on Monday. He was 93.
Rabbi Yosef, who had suffered from a variety of medical ailments
for several years, was hospitalized in recent days in critical condition after
suffering kidney failure and problems with other bodily systems. Officials at
the Jerusalem hospital that treated him announced his death.
Rabbi Yosef was often called the outstanding Sephardic rabbinical
authority of the century.
His prominence helped boost the confidence of his
community, which makes up roughly half of Israel’s population but was long
impoverished and faced discrimination by Ashkenazi - or European - Jews who
traditionally dominated Israel’s government and religious institution.
Rabbi Yosef parlayed his religious authority into political power,
founding Shas, a party representing Sephardic Jews that became a kingmaker in
several government coalitions.
As hospital officials announced his death, anguished cries
could be heard from a large crowd of supporters that had gathered.
Eli Yishai, a Shas leader, stepped outside the hospital,
recited a Jewish blessing and then broke down into tears.
“How will we remain alone. Who will lead us,” said Arieh
Deri, another Shas leader, as he sobbed uncontrollably.
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