Peres with Rabbi Ovadia
Peres with Rabbi OvadiaIsrael news photo: Flash 90

Rabbi Ovadia Yosef has been released from the Hadassah Ein Karem Hospital in Jerusalem following successful surgery.

Rabbi Yosef is the spiritual leader of the Shas movement and is renowned for his knowledge of halacha (Jewish law).

He was hospitalized last week after suffering strong back pains. Doctors diagnosed a fracture in one of his vertebrae, which had apparently been caused by a fall.

Rabbi Yosef underwent surgery, and his health has improved.

President Shimon Peres spoke to Rabbi Yosef’s daughter-in-law, Yehudit Yosef, to express his hope that the rabbi will recover quickly.

“I want to express my support for the rabbi and his family, and to wish, in my name and in the name of many other Israelis, that the rabbi merit a complete recovery and return to us quickly,” he said.