Jerusalem – A historic number of people turned out today in Jerusalem to mourn HaRav Ovadia Yosef, who passed away early this morning at age 93 in Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center. One of the world’s most highly acclaimed halachic authorities, the former Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel and the spiritual leader of the Shas party, R’ Yosef’s appeal was so broad according to the AP police estimated the turnout for the levaya at 700,000, with several Israeli news sites reporting that 800,000 mourners that swarmed the streets of Jerusalem.

Yeshivos, kollelim and businesses throughout the country were closed in order to allow full participation at the levaya following announcements by prominent rabbonim including Rav Shmuel Auerbach, Rav Aryeh Leib Shteinman, R’ Shmuel Zalman Grossman and the Belzer Rebbe, according to reports on Israeli news site B’Chadrei Chareidim.

Before the levaya, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu shared his personal recollections of R’ Yosef.

“Every time I was near the Rav, I saw firsthand what it means to study Torah day and night. He was the personification of Torah, an accomplished leader and a tzaddik.”

In addition to the hundreds of thousands of Israelis who turned out to honor R’ Yosef were political leaders and prestigious rabbonim including the Karliner Rebbe who flew back from London, the Vizhnitzer Rebbe who had been Tzefas, the Belzer Rebbe, the Pinsker Rebbe, the Rachmastrivka Rebbe, Rav Shlomo Amar, R’ Dovid Abuchazeira and the Roshei Yeshiva of Ponevezh, R’ Gershon Eidelstein and R’ Baruch Dov Povarski.

The levaya, which was held in Geula on Rechov Malchei Yisroel at Yeshiva Porat Yosef where R’ Yosef studied as a teen, began at approximately 6 PM Israel time with the recitation of Tehillim by former Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel, R’ Shlomo Amar. Numerous hespedim were delivered by R’ Yosef’s sons as well as by R’ Shmuel Auerbach, R’ Eliyahu Bakshi-Doron , R’ Benayahu Shmueli and R’ Reuven Elbaz among others.

R’ Yitzchak Yosef compared his father’s demise to the destruction of the Bais Hamikdash.

“Without Abba, what are we?” he asked tearfully. “We are blind, in the darkness. He strengthened the world of halacha and in his merit thousands upon thousands learn Torah.”

“I have so many question and no one to ask. You raised us in Torah and it was a privilege to be your sons,” added R’ Dovid Yosef. “Every time we had a question you took us into the world of halacha. You were the Moshe Rabbeinu of our generation. Abba, who will we ask now? With whom will we speak? The sun has set, how will this generation go on without you? We are left orphans with no father. How will we go on?”

In his eulogy, R’ Yisroel Meir Lau praised R’ Yosef for his unique ability to lead an unite legions of Jews.

“Maran was the Rov of all of Israel. He was loved by people and by the One Above. Who has the privilege of having a levaya like this? The love of so many talmidim? The nation of Israel in its multitudes knows the truth, who is important, who is a giant in Torah who is really the leader of Israel and the Rov of our entire nation.”

Another of the maspidim, Aryeh Deri, chairman of the Shas party, wept openly as he wondered aloud who will take R’ Yosef’s place, saying, “Rabbeinu, Rabbeinu, because of whom did you leave us? Who did you leave us with? We have no father, no leader. Who will we ask? Who will unite us? Don’t leave us. Continue to daven for us that we will continue your tradition. Rabbienu, I promise you in my name and in the name of all of my friends that we will continue your work with dedication and we will continue for the sake of the Torah world which stands in danger. You left us during our must difficult time. Who will lead us?”

Haim Amsalem, a former Shas lawmaker who left the party after a falling out with other members, said Yosef could never be replaced.

“Shas as we know it is finished,” he told Channel 2 TV. “Now Shas has to reinvent itself.”

Over 4000 police officers were in place for the levaya according to reports on Ynet, and numerous pleas were issued to the public to exercise extreme caution because of the sheer number of people in attendance. At one point police warned people to stay off rooftops and other dangerous locations to prevent possible accidents and over 100 people sought medical attention for minor injuries.

Because of the unprecedented crowds, the vehicle carrying R’ Yosef was only able to move inches at a time as it crept its way along on to the Beis Olam, finally arriving in Sanhedria nearly two and a half hours after leaving Porat Yosef, where R’ Yosef was laid to rest next to his wife Margalit.

According to Arutz Sheva reports, R’ Yosef’s will instructed the Sephardic community to remain united after his passing and not to fight over his successor.

Photos below sponsored By:

Peter Rebenwurzel, Chairman Raoul Wallenberg Centennial Celebration Commission.

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