The spiritual leader and founder of the Sefardi haredi Shas political party Rabbi Ovadia Yosef had a small stroke over Shabbat. Shas' co-chairman Eli Yishai claimed today that Yosef had the stroke because he was worried about haredi yeshiva students being drafted into the military like all other Jewish Israelis are.
Rabbi Ovadia Yosef
Israel HaYom reports:
…Shas co-chairman, Interior Minister Eli Yishai, considered to be extremely close to Yosef, told an ultra-Orthodox website on Sunday that the reason for the stroke was the fact that, "the rabbi was anxious over the danger of yeshiva boys being forcibly drafted."…
"I walked to the hospital to spend time by the rabbi's bed," Yishai said. "He asked during the course of the night: 'What will become of them (yeshiva students)’?”…
Haredi leaders are fighting the looming haredi draft, arguing that the Torah study of haredi yeshiva students is more or as important than serving in the military.
Yishai and other Shas functionaries also made it clear that Yosef's mind was not damaged by the stroke:
…"His eminence is fully functioning and even performed the havdalah [at the end of Shabbat] ceremony," Shas said in a statement issued Saturday night. "In the morning, his doctors will convene to decide on how to proceed with his treatment.”…
On Shabbat, Shas co-chairmen Aryeh Deri and Yishai visited the hospital, arriving by foot so as to abide by the prohibition against driving on the Sabbath. "I was very worried," Yishai, said. "But seeing the rabbi throughout the day assuaged my fears."
"The rabbi taught us Torah," Yishai added. "He is talking and feeling well."
Deri, who left a family function to visit his party's spiritual leader in the hospital, said, "this is our leader and we are worried, but his condition is good. I spoke with the rabbi and his speech is clear. Concentration, focus – everything is as good and smooth as always.”…
Yosef was released from Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital earlier today.