A year after the passing of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, a memorial service was held for him Sunday night. Attending the event were Israel's chief rabbis, as well as leaders of the hareidi Sephardic and Ashkenazic communities. About 15,000 people attended the memorial service at the Jerusalem Pais Arena.
Maran (our rabbi and mentor), as he was called reverently by his followers, was the Sephardic Chief Rabbi (Rishon Letzion) of Israel from 1973-1983, a world recognized Talmudic scholar with a photographic memory, foremost halakhic authority and master orator. He served as the spiritual leader of the Shas political party since founding the party in 1982.
He was referred to as the Posek HaDor ("Torah Arbiter of the present Generation"), Gadol HaDor ("greatest one of the generation") and Ma'or Yisrael ("The Light of Israel").
Rabbi Yosef's halakhic responsaare highly regarded within Orthodox circles and are considered binding in Mizrahi communities (those hailing from the Middle East, northern Africa and the Mediterranean), among whom he was regarded as "the most important living halakhic authority."