Ovadia Yosef Former Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel Date of Birth: 23.09.1920 Country: Israel

1. Early Life and Education
2. Religious Leadership
3. Controversial Statements
4. Threats and Security
5. Medical Ethics
6. Recent Years

Early Life and Education

Ovadia Yosef was born in Baghdad, Iraq in 1920 to a family of merchants. His family moved to Jerusalem in 1924, where his father reopened his shop. Despite his father's desire for him to become his successor in business, Ovadia showed little interest in trade. However, he excelled in his Torah studies and was later enrolled in Porat Yosef Yeshiva. His talent was recognized, and he became a rabbi at the young age of 20.

Religious Leadership

In 1943, Yosef married and was sent to Cairo in 1946 as the assistant chief rabbi. After the establishment of the State of Israel, he served as a judge in the district rabbinical courts of Petah Tikva and Jerusalem. He became the Sephardic Rabbi of Tel Aviv in 1968, serving until 1973, when he became the Chief Sephardic Rabbi of Israel.

Controversial Statements

Yosef is known for his controversial statements, which have often garnered media attention and drawn criticism from both the Jewish and global communities. In 2000, he claimed that Holocaust victims were punished for sins committed in previous incarnations. He repeated this statement in 2009, sparking outrage from religious and political leaders alike. He also called Hurricane Katrina "punishment for President Bush and African Americans" and declared that voting for Avigdor Lieberman was a grave sin and "helping the devil." In 2010, he stated that the sole purpose of non-Jews was to serve Jews and that their lives were given only to work for the well-being of Jews.

Threats and Security

In April 2005, three members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine were arrested for plotting an attack on Yosef. One of them, Musa Darwish, was sentenced to 12 years in prison on charges of attempted murder.

Medical Ethics

In 2011, Yosef advised Jewish doctors to avoid providing medical assistance to non-Jews on the Sabbath.

Recent Years

Despite his advanced age, Yosef remains active in politics and religion, serving as the spiritual leader of the Shas political party. He continues to make controversial statements, which some believe he uses to stay in the public eye. In 2012, he stated that the media had great power and that "every person has a spark of holiness in their soul, even journalists."