Leading Sephardic Rabbis Celebrate Wedding Shabbat Together in Bnei Brak

Last weekend, the city of Bnei Brak celebrated a festive Shabbat as the two Sephardic Chief Rabbis of Israel, Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef and Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar, gathered to mark the wedding Shabbat of Rabbi Yosef's granddaughter, daughter of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, at the Yabia Omer event hall. The event began with a private reception for Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, attended by city Rabbi Moshe Ben Shimon, Rabbi Yigal Cohen, and other community leaders, held in the office of Rabbi Cohen, the head of Yabia Omer.

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef led the Shabbat prayers at the Yabia Omer synagogue, accompanied by cantor Rabbi Moshe Pinchasi. Before the evening prayers, Rabbi Yigal Cohen delivered remarks, and after the prayers, attendees received Rabbi Yosef's blessing. On Shabbat day, Rabbi Yosef ascended to the platform and conducted a memorial segment for his late father-in-law, Rabbi Rahamim Attiya, who had recently passed away. Later, a large crowd gathered to hear Rabbi Yosef's in-depth halachic lecture on "Grama on Shabbat," incorporating teachings from his father, the late Rabbi Ovadia Yosef. The lecture was attended by neighborhood rabbis, yeshiva heads, community leaders, and Rabbi Asher Zigdon of Harish, who was visiting Bnei Brak for the family celebration. Rabbi Yosef concluded with afternoon prayers and departed after the third meal to Jerusalem for his weekly major lecture at the Hizdam synagogue, warmly parting from Rabbi Amar and family.

Meanwhile, Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar prayed on Friday night at the Beit Rafael synagogue, recalling memories of Rabbi Israel Pinchasi, founder of the Ari yeshiva. He then joined the celebrations at Yabia Omer. On Shabbat morning, Rabbi Amar prayed at the Magen David synagogue, where he previously served as community rabbi before becoming Chief Rabbi of Israel and Tel Aviv. He gave a short lesson there before delivering the main sermon at the historic "Ahavat Torah Ish Matzliach" synagogue, the study hall of his late friend Rabbi Moshe Mazuz, attended by hundreds. Rabbi Amar led afternoon prayers, the third meal, evening prayers, and Havdalah at the same location.

This rare joint presence of the two Chief Rabbis in Bnei Brak highlighted the city's central role in Torah and Hasidic life and underscored the significance of the family celebration linked to the legacy of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef.