Rabbi Ovadia Yosef Memorial Draws Thousands Amid Election Campaign

By שילֹה פריד

Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba

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Hebrew · 3 newsrooms covering

Tens of thousands visited Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's grave in Jerusalem on the anniversary of his death, amidst election campaigning. Shas party posters featuring the late spiritual leader were displayed, while opposing groups distributed critical flyers. A planned official memorial event was canceled due to electioneering concerns, though family members encouraged support for Shas.

The story in 6 lines · by baba

Tens of thousands attended the memorial for Rabbi Ovadia Yosef in Jerusalem.
Shas party election posters featuring Rabbi Ovadia Yosef were displayed near his grave.
Anti-draft groups distributed flyers criticizing Shas and its leader Aryeh Deri.
A large official memorial event was canceled due to electioneering concerns.
Family members encouraged support for the Shas party at the memorial.
Associates recalled Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's concern for all Israelis and his influence.

Rabbi Ovadia Yosef Memorial Draws Thousands Amid Election Campaign — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

Tens of thousands of people visited the grave of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef in Jerusalem's Sanhedria cemetery on the anniversary of his passing, 13 years after his funeral, which was reportedly the largest in Israeli history. Attendees recited Psalms and received food and blessings at hospitality tents, while the Ministry of Religious Services provided candles and distributed prayer materials.

The annual memorial event, known as a 'hillula,' typically involves visiting the grave and praying without formal speeches. However, this year's commemoration was marked by the ongoing election campaign. The late Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, the spiritual leader of the Shas party and former Chief Rabbi, remains a significant figure. Campaign posters featuring his image were displayed near the cemetery by the Shas party.

Conversely, anti-draft organizations, opposing religious parties, distributed flyers criticizing Shas and its leader Aryeh Deri, with some posters being defaced. A large memorial event planned by the Ministry of Religious Services was canceled due to concerns it would be used for electioneering, as ruled by the Attorney General.

Despite the cancellation, Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef, son of the late Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, reminded attendees that Shas was his father's life's work and encouraged support for the party. Rabbi Mordechai Hassidim, a close associate, recalled Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's deep care for all segments of Israeli society, including secular individuals and soldiers, and stated that if he were alive, issues like the draft and the status of Torah students would be resolved, asserting, "He would have banged on the table once and everything would have been sorted out."

Rabbi Baruch Dray, Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef's son-in-law and Aryeh Deri's nephew, observed the large turnout and emphasized the palpable sense of loss since Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's passing. He noted the diverse crowd, reflecting the widespread impact of the former spiritual leader, who he said "raised the prestige of Eastern Jewry" and "restored dignity." He also mentioned the current perceived "persecution" of the Haredi public in Israel and recalled Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's concern for yeshiva students.