[Aneinu] Baruch Dayan Ha'Emes - Hagon HaRav Yaakov Yosef zt"l

Petira Of Hagon HaRav Yaakov Yosef ZATZAl – Oldest Son Of Chacham Ovadia (Friday, April 12th, 2013) YWN regrets to inform you of the Petira of Hagon HaRav Yaakov Chai Yosef ZATZAL, who had been fighting a most difficult illness for about two years. He was 67 years old. As was reported by YWN, HaRav Yaakov Yosef had announced at one of his Shiurim “My chances for recovery are slim but in the zchus of tefilos I can recover”. The rav had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer R”L. Rav Yaakov is the Bechor (oldest son) of Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef Shlita, one who literally gave tens of shiurim weekly. Despite his illness, he continued his rigorous schedule – giving his shiurim and meeting and consulting with people. When it became too difficult for him to deliver his Shiurim, Rav Yosef began giving some of his shiurim via radio broadcast. The Shas-affiliated Kol Berama Radio aired his shiurim to permit the listeners to continue benefiting from his words of Torah. Rav Yaakov was the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Chazon Yaakov, which he founded in memory of his grandfather, Harav Yaakov Yosef. He was also the Rov of his Shul in Givat Moshe, Yerushalayim. Thousands of Talmidim were taught by Rav Yaakov in his Yeshiva. Between 1983 and 1984 he served as a member of the Jerusalem City Council on behalf of the Shas party. Ahead of the elections to the 11th Knesset, he was placed on the Shas list, when it first ran in the Israeli elections, and was elected to the Knesset. During his tenure as an MK he served on the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, the Education and Culture Committee, and the parliamentary investigation committee into road accidents. Unfortunately, his condition deteriorated recently, and he was hospitalized at Haddasa Ein Kerem Hospital in Yerushalayim, until his Petira on Friday afternoon. He was surrounded by his family, and Rabbonim at the time of his Petira. He is survived by his father, Maran Hagon HaRav Ovadia Yosef Shlita, his brothers, Rav Dovid (Rosh Bais Hamedrash Yichaveh Daas), Rav Yitzchok (Rosh Yeshiva Chazon Ovadia), Rav Avrohom (Rov in the city of Cholon), Rav Moshe (Rosh Badatz Bais Yosef), his wife, and his eight children, including his sons who are Rabbonim: Rav Ovadia, Rav Amram, Rav Avrohom Bonyamin, Rav Yonoson, and Rav Moshe. The Levaya will be leaving Bais Medrash “Boruchuv” in the Bucharim area of Yerushalayim to Kevura on Har Hamenuchos on Friday afternoon at 5:00PM. Chacham Ovadia paskened that anyone not planning on spending Shabbos in Yerushalayim should not attend the Levaya, due to Shabbos. Boruch Dayan Emmes…