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He Definitely Deserves It

Knesset passes law to commemorate Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef once a year

The Shas spiritual leader and the icon for Sefardic Jewry will now be introduced to future generations in schools and via other institutions.

Avi Woolf
Avi Woolf
3 min read
Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef ob"m.
Photo: Wikipedia

Today (Monday), the Knesset plenum unanimously approved the bill proposed by MK Yossi Tayeb and the Shas party to commemorate the memory and work of Maran Rabbi Ovadia Yosef of blessed memory in the second and third reading, unanimously.

The bill establishes that the 3rd of Cheshvan, the day of Maran's passing, will be declared as "Rabbi Ovadia Yosef Day in his memory." As part of the law, ceremonies and educational activities will be held in state institutions, the Knesset will hold a special discussion, and the Ministry of Religious Services will organize a memorial ceremony.

Additionally, educational institutions will conduct learning activities on the subject, and the Ministry of Religious Services will provide grants to research institutes in the field.

A special committee will be established to advise on the law's implementation, and among other things, the Jerusalem Municipality will establish a municipal corporation to commemorate Maran's memory.

The explanatory preamble to the law explained its purpose: ""Maran Rabbi Ovadia Yosef of blessed memory was the senior Sephardic rabbi of his generation, served as the Sephardic Chief Rabbi (Rishon LeZion) from 1972 to 1983. He was a spiritual leader, guide, and religious authority who championed kindness in his rulings. The Rabbi authored many books and was a recipient of the Israel Prize for Torah Literature. The purpose of this proposed law published hereby is to pass down his legacy, work, and rulings to future generations and to educate future generations in the spirit of his vision and contribution to Jewish unity."

Opposition Leader, MK Yair Lapid, who often harshly criticizes the Haredi community, said "the great appreciation I have for Rabbi Ovadia is because he had something that is so lacking today – he had the power to be lenient. He had the knowledge and moral courage to permit and be lenient in matters of Jewish law. This was true in his rulings for agunot [women whose husbands refuse to grant them a religious divorce], for mamzerim [children born from certain forbidden relationships], and in the decision to bring Ethiopian Jews to Israel.

"Rabbi Ovadia said that it's easiest to say no. You don't need great rabbis just for that. You need great rabbis for the courage to say yes. He said that those who always say no and oppose any possibility of change are those who don't know enough. They haven't studied enough, and that's why they're always strict, because it's the easy option. Rabbi Ovadia taught us that Jewish law is a living text of living people and all this text needs is someone like him who knows how to read it with love and a measure of kindness."


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