Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, of blessed memory, was not merely a former Chief Rabbi of the State of Israel, nor was he just the Rabbi behind the Shas Party, but one of the greatest scholars of Talmudic Law of the past century and beyond. The burden of his loss can only be filled by many working together. We cannot expect just any rabbi to simply step right in and equal his affect on Israel and the Torah world.
His writings literally changed the customs of many Sephardi Jews around the world. His willingness to bring the Torah down from the Mountain and into the Knesset changed the path of politics in Israel for the better. He set Shas on a path to stand up for Torah ideals, and yet be willing to work with any party for the betterment of the State of Israel. We should not merely be grateful for the man, but for the One who gave him to us. He was just what the people needed, and that is what God gave. "The Lord gave and the Lord took, may the name of the Lord be blessed." (Iyov/Job 1.21)
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
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