Election Time
Before understanding how Maran received position as the Chief Rabbi of Israel, it is important to be somewhat familiar with the election process, and the technicalities that lingered behind the scenes. Israel has two chief rabbis, one Ashkenazi leader and another, Sephardic. During the years 1964 to 1973, Rav Isser Yehuda Unterman zt”l (1886–1976), a student of the great Rav Shimon Shkop and a distinguished scholar in his own rite, served as the Ashkenazi chief rabbi (referred to as the Rav HaRashi), with Hacham Yitzhak Nissim zt”l (1896–1981) leading as the Sephardic chief rabbi (referred to as the Rishon LeTzion). In the campaign for the 1972 Israeli National Elections, the Israeli Labor Party (a social-democratic and zionist political party) along with the National Religious Party (a political party representing the religious Zionist movement) developed a coalition in support of Rabbi Shlomo Goren, an accredited scholar who founded and served as the first Head of Military Rabbinate for the Israeli Defense Forces. He was also amongst Maran’s familiar colleagues during his tenure as the Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv. Although Rabbi Goren attracted many, his uncompromising personality resulted in his becoming a rather controversial figure in Israeli politics. He was generally more lenient on halachic matters, and his rulings often clashed with many of Israel’s renowned gedolim. He was plainly not accepted amongst several of Israel’s greats, and political conflict lingered between him and both Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv zt”l (1910–2012) and Rav Betzalel Zolti zt”l (1920–1982) of the Israeli Chief Rabbinate.
The Israeli Labor Party and the NRP resolved that Rabbi Goren was to be a candidate in the coming elections for new Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi. Several gedolei yisrael feared the consequence of Rabbi Goren’s possible victory, as he was working to permit a family of mamzerim whom were previously ruled to be definite mamzerim by other rabbinic courts. Should Goren prevail and assume the position, surely the trial was to become a renewed discussion, and he would undoubtedly permit them to marry regular Jewish spouses.
Even rabbis that normally avoided public opposition would not remain silent. Several Torah giants, such as HaRav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt”l (1910-1995) felt responsible to publicly denounce Goren’s candidacy. Rav Elyashiv and Rav Zolti, whom governed all events in the chief rabbinate, tried tirelessly to appoint a worthy candidate to run against Rabbi Goren. And finally, in coordination with Rav Unterman, they resolved that Rav Zolti would run for the position. However, backed with much support by the NRP, it was clear that Goren was going to win the election, and in desperation, Rav Zolti hurried to the chief rabbi of Tel Aviv, Rav Ovadia Yosef. He pressured him greatly to run for the position of Sephardic Chief Rabbi so as to have a more “Haredi” figure by Goren’s side.
“In a situation like this,” said Rav Zolti, “there is no escape from the Sephardic position.” The Chief Rabbinate believed that with Maran alongside Goren, at the very least it will be possible to save the Chief Rabbinate from total collapse. Maran refused vehemently, but due to substantial pressure on the part of Rav Elyashiv, he relented, and agreed to run for the position.
Government parties, led by former Prime Minister Golda Meir, acted strongly to prevent Maran’s victory, although to no avail. On March 15, 1973 Maran Hacham Ovadia Yosef was crowned Chief Rabbi of Israel.
Taking Charge
In 1982, Maran founded Mo’eset Hachmei HaTorah, or Council of Torah Sages, along with “Shas” (an acronym for Shomrei S’farad). Founder members of the Council include HaRav Shimon Baadani shlita, HaRav Shalom Cohen shlita, and HaRav Shabtai Aton zt”l (1925-2006). The Council was established to be the rabbinical body that would have the ultimate authority in the Shas Party.
The Shas Movement
Shas was made “Le’hahzir Ha’atara Le’yoshna,” to “Return the Crown to its Former Glory”, and to repair what it viewed as a loss of Torah scholars amongst the Sephardic population, as well as continued economic and social discrimination against the Sephardic population in Israel. With Hacham Ovadia leading the way, along with strategic help and guidance from the great frontrunner of the Torah World, Rav Elazar Menachem Mann Shach zt”l (1899-2001), Shas focused on the needs of Sephardic Israelis, successfully restoring the ancient pride in the once downtrodden Community.
Shas advocates a state run according to Halacha, and actively engages in bringing people back to their father in heaven. They’ve established their own government-funded education system called “Ma’ayan HaHinuch HaTorani,” commonly referred to as El HaMa'ayan, an extensive education network spread throughout Israel, from Kiryat Shmona in the north all the way to Eilat in the south. The amount of charity and goodness that Shas has done, and continues to do, is nothing short of amazing.
Maran’s tenure as Chief Rabbi was short, yet immensely productive. He inspired and strengthened countless Israelis with his fiery, inspiring words of hizuk and mussar. He succeeded in instituting many religious schools, and held scores of fundraisers to support Torah institutions. The Hacham also worked to strengthen the production of dayanim for the religious courts. Discretely, he financially supported countless talmidei hachamim, allowing them to continue their intensive Torah study. How often he would pay visit to the homes of complete strangers, encouraging them to follow the Torah, keep Shabbat, kashrut, and the laws of family purity. He made it priority to uplift the hearts of Israeli soldiers and attempted persistently to guide them back to their roots.
The Legacy Continues
Although we've sadly, mourned the death of his eldest son, Hacham Yaakov Yosef zt”l, we are blessed to have Hacham Avraham, Hacham David, Hacham Moshe, and the new Chief Rabbi of Israel, HaGaon Rav Yitzhak Yosef, whom will undoubtedly continue their father’s legacy in spreading the knowledge of Hashem and his Torah. Amen.
