Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's Grandson Reveals Personal Stories, Political Motivations
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's grandson, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef Toledano, shared personal stories about his grandfather's life, including his humble beginnings and struggles in Egypt. He revealed that Rabbi Ovadia Yosef entered politics due to discrimination against Sephardic rabbis and concerns for youth education. Toledano also shared his grandfather's deep sorrow over the current treatment of yeshiva students and detailed his intense study habits and dedication to helping those in need until his final days.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's grandson revealed his grandfather's motivations for entering politics were discrimination and youth education.
- Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's grandson shared stories of his grandfather's humble beginnings and struggles in Egypt.
- Rabbi Ovadia Yosef would have wept over the current treatment of yeshiva students in Israel, his grandson stated.
- A notebook revealed Rabbi Ovadia Yosef slept only three hours per Shabbat due to intense Torah study.
- Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's wife sacrificed personal needs to fund the printing of his first book.
- Rabbi Ovadia Yosef continued to sign halachic rulings despite severe pain in his final months.
Rabbi Ovadia Yosef Toledano, grandson of the late Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, shared intimate details about his grandfather's life and the reasons behind his entry into politics in an interview with Yossi Avdo. Toledano recounted his grandfather's humble beginnings, working in his father's grocery store where he would study Torah even while customers paid.
He described Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's early struggles, including a difficult period in Egypt where he faced accusations of spying and a refusal to compromise on kashrut laws, leading to their departure. Upon returning to Jerusalem, the family was extremely poor, possessing only minimal cutlery. Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's wife, Rabbi Margalit, sacrificed her own needs, using money intended for household items to fund the printing of his first book, "Yabia Omer."
Rabbi Toledano explained that Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's decision to enter politics stemmed not from personal ambition but from a deep concern for the discrimination faced by Sephardic rabbis, who received meager salaries and were not recognized as chief rabbis. His primary motivation was the education of Sephardic youth, prompting him to personally visit homes to register children for Talmudic schools.
He revealed that Rabbi Ovadia Yosef felt that engaging with politicians, even for brief periods, caused him significant loss of Torah study time. Toledano also shared his grandfather's profound sorrow over the current treatment of yeshiva students, stating that Rabbi Ovadia Yosef would have wept at the persecution of these students in Israel.
The interview also featured a glimpse into a notebook belonging to Rabbi Ben Zion Mutzafi, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's father-in-law, detailing Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's intense study schedule, which included only about three hours of sleep per Shabbat. Another anecdote described Rabbi Ovadia Yosef prioritizing the reading of his grandson's book, "Kinyan Torah," over starting the Passover Seder, and his practice of delivering forceful slaps to politicians as a form of admonishment.
Finally, Toledano recounted a story from Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's final months, where, despite severe back pain, he insisted on signing a halachic ruling for a woman facing issues of agunah and mamzerut, emphasizing his dedication to helping those in need until his last moments. He also recalled Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's focus on ensuring elderly individuals could vote, highlighting his belief in the love the Jewish people have for God.
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