Yosef's son to Netanyhau: Haredi draft hurt dad more than his ailments
Prime minister confronted on political issue by Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's son during condolence visit to family.
By YUVAL BAGNO, JPOST.COM STAFFnetanyahu at yosef shiva 370(photo credit: GPO)
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres were among the many people to pay their respects at the family home of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef in Jerusalem on Tuesday, where the Prime Minister was met with some political debate from the family. During Netanyahu's visit at the shiva, one of Yosef's sons David confronted the Prime Minister on the issue of Shas's political struggle against the new law to draft haredim, invoking his recently deceased father in the debate."The issue of drafting the yeshiva students was in his soul. He was greatly distressed these past few months over this even more than his physical pain," David Yosef said. "He constantly asked, what will be with these yeshiva students and with the world of the Torah; therefore, please, it is necessary that this edict be cancelled," Yosef, the son implored Netanyahu. Netanyahu, who was put on the spot, answered quietly, "We are searching for a way to preserve the world of Torah." Peres said at the family home that Yosef always "invested in the links that connected the nation, and of all the eulogies the nation dedicated the most beautiful one when it came out in droves for the funeral." Peres paid consolation visits to the Rabbi's six daughters, Adina, Leah, Malca, Yaffa, Rivka, and Sara and with his sons Abraham, David, Yitzhak. Other political guests at the family shiva included Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and former defense minister Ehud Barak.
