Rabbi Yosef, the Shas Party's spiritual leader and a leading Talmudic and Halakhic[Jewish Legal] scholar, arrived at Hadassah Hospital complaining of chest pains and shortness of breath. He was said to be feeling better after initial treatment, and reportedly spent a "quiet night."



Hadassah Hospital spokesperson Yael Bosem-Levy said that the 86-year-old rabbi was first treated at his Jerusalem home by his personal physician, Professor Yochanan Shtesman, who recommended that he be hospitalized. The rabbi will be operated on tomorrow by senior doctors in Hadassah's cardiological department.



Studies in the many schools of the Shas Party network around the country have been dedicated to Rabbi Yosef's good health.



On Wednesday night, Rabbi Yosef was admitted to the intensive care unit of Nahariya Hospital for observation, and was released the following day. At the time, following a series of examinations that indicated general health, doctors reported that the rabbi had suffered a minor cardiac incident.



Rabbi Yosef complained of chest pain on Wednesday while flying by helicopter to a Shas Party religious rally in honor of the upcoming Rosh Hashanah New Year holiday. Shas leader Minister Eli Yishai, who was accompanying the rabbi, telephoned for an ambulance to stand by while the chopper rerouted to Nahariya Hospital.



Immediately upon his release on Thursday, Rabbi Yosef said he felt well and, in honor of the approaching holiday, wished the people of Israel a good year. He returned to Jerusalem following his release, accompanied by paramedics and a hospital ambulance.



Aides to the rabbi report that even at his advanced age, Rabbi Yosef maintains a 19-hour day, including his continued writing of Torah works, having recently published his 39th book.