Rabbi Yaacov Yosef

The Jewish People lost one of its mighty giants on 2 Iyar 5773 (12 April, 2013) only three hours before the beginning of Shabbat. Rabbi Yaacov Yosef of saintly and blessed memory returned his holy soul to his Creator. He succumbed to a battle with cancer that finally overcame him at the young age of 66. Up until two weeks prior to his passing, Rabbi Yaacov was still saying his weekly Torah lesson at the Borochov Synagogue in Jerusalem. He was the head of the Chazon Yaacov yeshiva (which is named after his grandfather), and the rabbi for the Givat Moshe neighborhood in Jerusalem. He was the second child of our revered spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef shlit’a, and his oldest son.
 
Rabbi Yaacov was a monumental giant in Torah, yet utterly humble. He shunned publicity and traveled from place to place on the public buses. He was a member of Knesset from 1984 to 1988, sent to represent the Shas Party, and virtually coerced to do so. Yet, he disliked politics, and after one term of service, returned full-time to Torah. He was readily accessible, and would answer each person’s questions. Rabbi Reuven Elbaz shlit’a, head of the Ohr HaChaim Yeshiva and former chevrusa (learning partner), said that Rabbi Yaacov’s diligence in Torah was no less than phenomenal; he’d learn for hours straight without picking his head up from the text.
 

Rabbi Yaacov had a hawkish view on Israeli politics. As such, he was especially loved in the communities of Judea and Samaria. He feared no one, and he was even arrested when he gave his approbation to the controversial “The King’s Torah” written by Rabbi Yitzchak Shapira of Yitzhar. Rabbi Yaacov also fought against what he viewed as discriminatory practices in religious schools.
 
Israel’s Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger shlit’a called his death “a great loss for the Jewish people, the Land of Israel, and the world of Sephardi halacha (religious law) and jurisprudence.”
 
Rabbi Metzger said that Rabbi Yaacov Yosef’s “love for the Land of Israel was great and he experienced great regret over every foot of the Land of Israel that was returned [to the Palestinians] as if it were a precious diamond that was lost.”
 
Shortly before he died, Rabbi Yaacov summoned his dear friend, Kabbalist Rabbi Yaacov Addes shlit’a. He implored Rabbi Addes to tell the world his last two messages:

• “Tell the settlers (in Judea and Samaria – editor) that I love them, but tell them to stop sending their daughters to Sherut Leumi (National service).”
• “In matters of religious education, do not take the cases to civil court” (in other words, the religious community should settle differences among themselves in beit din (religious court)).

Breslev Israel grieves at this tremendous loss to the Jewish People, and prays that Rabbi Yaacov Yosef’s holy soul will intercede in our behalf by the Heavenly Throne, amen!