Hmmmm....
Ovadia Yosef - Wikipedia
"A woman's knowledge is only in sewing...Women should find other jobs and make
hamin, but not deal with matters of Torah."
Following
Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Yosef blamed the tragedy on U.S. support for the Gaza disengagement, and on a general lack of Torah study in the area where the hurricane occurred.
In an October 2010 sermon, Yosef stated that "The sole purpose of non-Jews is to serve Jews". He said that Gentiles served a divine purpose:
“ Why are Gentiles needed? They will work, they will plow, they will reap. We will sit like an effendi and eat. That is why Gentiles were created."
[75] ”
In the same article in
The Jerusalem Post, according to the journalist who interviewed him, Yosef compared Gentiles to donkeys whose life has the sole purpose to serve the master....
It doesn't get better...remarks about the holocaust....etc. This is a great spiitual leader? He sounds like the Jewish version of Pastor Hagee and some of tbe other American Evangelical leaders.
Yes, Maran Ovadia Yosef ztz"l was a great spiritual leader,
one of greatest rulers of Jewish Law in modern time who had a phenomenal memory and was a true genius. He had "broad shoulders" to solve and allow what other couldn't, like in the cases of hundreds of bereaved wives orphans of missing soldiers, for whom he spent many sleepless nights so that they could continue a normal life and build new homes and families in Israel.
That said, I can definitely see how someone basing her opinion on a bunch of controversial articles, who's sources are, putting it mildly are either lacking, distorted or simply based banal lies with no reference other than some journalists looking for sensation.
From a quick look at the statements you've brought up, it shows that even their links were either from biased sources, or taken off for being too evident as false stories, for anyone with a basic understanding of Jewish Law and knowledge of Maran Ovadia's rulings in his works, that at least in Israel have become common knowledge.
Let's examine:
Hmmmm....
Ovadia Yosef - Wikipedia
"A woman's knowledge is only in sewing...Women should find other jobs and make
hamin, but not deal with matters of Torah."
The context his remark is totally missing, I've actually read the entire article, and it refers to the detailed argument regarding the correct order of lighting candles for Shabat, where there's a slight differene between the tradition of the northern and southern diasporas. However Maran Ovadia ztz"l was arguing against anyone of them, but rather referring to bunch of reform female "rabbis" who for provocation went on to confuse the order of the traditional practice in both communities against the rule of their chief Rabbis and long line of heritage that in each exists for their own specific reasons.
Reading further examining the supposed reasoning mentioned in the article where out of complete ignorance the journalists supposedly quotes Maran Ovadia as giving an explanation that is in complete contradiction to basic tenants of Jewish Law, exposes the Achilles ankle of the journalist's fabrication.
Nevertheless, even though Maran Ovadia fought fiercely against the reformist's failed and shallow provocations and attempts at disconnecting virtually an entire generation from its heritage, he himself while establishing the goal of returning the positions of Jewish Law to their traditional origins, in accordance to the Poskim of previous generations, ruled to allow women to read the Megilah on Purim when it was required, showing the context and complexity of his rule.
Following
Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Yosef blamed the tragedy on U.S. support for the Gaza disengagement, and on a general lack of Torah study in the area where the hurricane occurred.
Well, I found no source for the quote in neither of the links, neither in English nor in Hebrew press.
But whether you like it or not, recently it is becoming clearly evident that there're consequences of reward and punishment for the nations historic support of or hurting Israel as a whole worldwide, as well as for Israel themselves. Egyptians may have not liked it neither to find their firstborn dead, or to give away their wealth and property, or find Pharaoh whom they considered a god drown. On the other hand look at what happened to Sharon, Rabin, Begin or the group of IDF commanders with their soldiers who instead of securing the hold of east Jerusalem, when it was available during the war of '48, decided to ride off to an opposite direction. I don't need Maran Ovadia's quote to see that.
“ Why are Gentiles needed? They will work, they will plow, they will reap. We will sit like an effendi and eat. That is why Gentiles were created."
[75] ”
In the same article in
The Jerusalem Post, according to the journalist who interviewed him, Yosef compared Gentiles to donkeys whose life has the sole purpose to serve the master....
Here too, everywhere I looked they all refer to an article in Jerusalem Post, but the link doesn't exist.
That said, I'm not denying such a statement (sort of) exists in the Torah, it's just that it doesn't mean what it looks like from first sight. Though I can understand how it's naturally misinterpreted when taken out of context or detail.
When one hears the word 'slavery', the association is with coercion, like practiced in Africa and the US. But Judaism has a totally different definition of the term. After all we too are called 'children' and 'slaves' of G-d!
Referring to a 'donkey' is a common in texts, the word itself is closely related to what what could be translated as 'material' and usually interchangeable with an allegorical reference to 'materialism'. Like in descriptions of the Messiah appearing as "riding on a donkey", that of course doesn't mean gentiles, rather an overall spiritual atmosphere of the generation. But again without basic knowledge of Hebrew it's easy to misrepresent the purpose or meaning of such expression.
The prophets said that in the end of times all the nations will recognize the true Messiah, and then they'll want to glorify and exalt the Israel and aid us in the study of Torah. Meaning, they'll recognize the importance of Torah, service at the Temple, and will want to aid every Jew with a willing heart and great love, not out of coercion or anger G-d forbid.
It doesn't get better...remarks about the holocaust....etc. This is a great spiitual leader? He sounds like the Jewish version of Pastor Hagee and some of tbe other American Evangelical leaders.
Well, I don't know what Evangelical leaders say, and frankly care little if any, as long as they stick to their business and don't try to convert Jews. But drawing conclusions about such giants as Maran Ovadia ztz"l, based on shallow headlines from sensationalist media, merely shows the level of your own intellectual and spiritual development.
To sum it up - Yes, the 'First to Zion' HaRav Ovadia Yosef ztz"l was a great spiritual leader who's legacy alongside other giants that our generation merited to absorb wisdom from, will remain at the heart of the Jewish world.
He was, and as the righteous are called 'living' in their passing away, remains -
A True Lion!
