At Son’s Shivah, Harav Ovadia Yosef Tells Netanyahu of His Deep Pain Over Yeshivah Draft

Hagaon Harav Ovadia Yosef, shlita, the Nasi of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah, told Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who came to be menachem avel at his home on Tuesday, that notwithstanding the bereavement and pain he feels upon the loss of his son, he is extremely distraught over the threat of the draft of yeshivah bachurim.

The prime minister came to Harav Yosef’s home in the Har Nof neighborhood seeking to comfort him over the passing of his son Harav Yaakov Yosef, zt”l, who passed away last Friday after an illness.

Harav Yosef told the prime minister, “Although I am now a mourner, a father who has buried his son, especially such a Torah giant and teacher like my son was, and the pain is terrible, I am terribly distraught over the drafting of yeshivah bachurim.”

Observers say that Harav Yosef is extremely distraught over the passing of his son. However, despite his personal pain, he has continually voiced his distress over the threats to the Torah world, and speaks about how his soul finds no peace because of the situation.

This article appeared in print on page D1 of the April 17th, 2013 edition of Hamodia.