Rabbi Yigal Cohen Credits Rabbi Ovadia Yosef for His Life and Torah Study
Translated & summarized from Behadrei Haredim by baba
Rabbi Yigal Cohen credited the late Rabbi Ovadia Yosef with revolutionizing Jewish life in Israel and profoundly influencing his own path. Cohen recalled a difficult childhood where religion was scorned and Mizrahi children were marginalized, contrasting it with the spiritual revival brought about by Rabbi Yosef's fearless advocacy. A personal story revealed how Rabbi Yosef's directive led to Cohen being sent to a yeshiva at age six. Today, Cohen emphasized the importance of adhering to truth despite opposition, noting the widespread impact of Rabbi Yosef's efforts, including fifty thousand children studying in religious schools.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Rabbi Yigal Cohen credits Rabbi Ovadia Yosef for his Torah study and the establishment of religious education.
- Cohen described his childhood in Israel as a difficult period where religion was despised and Mizrahi children were marginalized.
- He recounted how Rabbi Yosef's directive led to him being sent to a yeshiva at age six.
- Cohen emphasized the importance of standing by the truth despite facing ridicule and opposition.
- He noted that Rabbi Yosef's legacy includes fifty thousand children studying in religious schools across Israel.
- Cohen shared that many family members who initially mocked his religious path now seek his blessings.
Rabbi Yigal Cohen shared personal reflections on the spiritual impact of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, known as Maran, during a memorial event for the late Sephardic leader. Cohen described Israel in his childhood as a "great catastrophe" where religion was despised and children from Mizrahi backgrounds, including Yemenis, Moroccans, and Persians, were marginalized and had their Jewish identity suppressed. He credited Rabbi Yosef as a unique individual sent by God who fought for the Jewish people, enabling Cohen's own Torah study and the establishment of religious schools and seminaries.
Cohen recounted the intense persecution Rabbi Yosef faced throughout his life, from childhood, yet emphasized his unwavering courage and dedication to truth. He stated that Rabbi Yosef's actions saved them, provided a path forward, and led to the founding of yeshivas, highlighting his self-sacrifice. Cohen identified himself as a "product" of Rabbi Yosef, recounting how, at age seventy, Rabbi Yosef visited the Tel Aviv neighborhood of Hatikva. Despite being told the area had mostly elderly residents, Rabbi Yosef insisted he was there for the children. He urged parents to enroll their children in religious schools, a directive that led Cohen's grandfather to ensure a six-year-old Yigal was sent to a yeshiva in Bnei Brak.
Rabbi Cohen stressed the importance of not fearing the truth, even when it leads to ridicule or social ostracism, citing his own experiences of being mocked for wearing a kippah, observing Shabbat, or choosing to study Torah instead of pursuing a secular profession. He noted that many family members initially mocked his path but now seek his blessings and advice, calling him the family's pride. Cohen concluded by highlighting the vast spiritual fruits of Rabbi Yosef's dedication, including the establishment of mikvahs and Torah study centers across Israel, which currently educate fifty thousand children, in addition to girls in seminaries and students in yeshivas.
