David Yosef

Hacham
David Yosef
Hacham David Yosef
TitleRishon LeZion
Chief Rabbi of Israel
Personal
Born (1957-08-10) August 10, 1957 (age 67)
ReligionJudaism
Nationality Israel
SpouseSofia Yosef
Parents
Alma materHebron Yeshiva (Knesset Yisrael), Ponevezh Yeshiva
Jewish leader
PredecessorYitzchak Yosef
PositionSephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel
OrganisationChief Rabbinate of Israel
OtherChief Rabbi of Har Nof, Rosh Kollel of Yechaveh Da'at

Hacham David Yosef (born August 10, 1957) is the Sefardi Chief Rabbi of Israel and Rishon LeZion. He has authored dozens of books in Jewish Law mainly based on the rulings of his father, Hacham Ovadia Yosef. His most notable work is a set of books named Halacha Berura, which is an encyclopedia like commentary on the Shulchan Aruch, with letters of approbation from his father and Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv.

On September 29, 2024, Yosef was elected to serve a ten year term as the Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel, The Rishon LeZion.[1][2] Both his older brother Yitzchak Yosef and his father Ovadia Yosef previously served in the office. He was inaugurated in a formal "crowning" ceremony on October 4th, 2024, which corresponds to the date of his fathers Yom Hillula, where he wore the vestments of his father.[3] Yosef currently serves as the president of the Chief Rabbinate Council, and will rotate with his Ashkenazi counter part, to later serve as Head of the Rabbinic Court.[4]

He previously served as the chief rabbi of the Har Nof neighborhood in Jerusalem,[5] the head of the Yechaveh Da'at Kollel, and a member of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah of the Shas party.[6][7]

He is regarded as one of the most influential Sephardic Rabbis in the world due to having scores of students serving as Rabbinic figures across the globe. He is fluent in multiple languages, including English, and often travels the world delivering Shiurim.[8]

Yosef is also a lecturer at Chazaq, a New York City-based outreach organization with a special emphasis on outreach for Jewish public school students. He is a frequent guest by the Syrian American community in Brooklyn and the Sephardic community in France, Argentina and Mexico.

  1. ^ Breuer, Eliav (September 29, 2024). "Rabbi David Yosef chosen as Israel's Sephardic chief rabbi". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  2. ^ Fiske, Gavriel (September 29, 2024). "David Yosef elected as Sephardic chief rabbi, the third from his family in the role". Times of Israel. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  3. ^ כהן, ישי (September 30, 2024). "הערכה: הכתרת הראשון לציון הגאון ." כיכר השבת (in Hebrew). Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  4. ^ כהן, ישי (September 30, 2024). "הערכה: הכתרת הראשון לציון הגאון ." כיכר השבת (in Hebrew). Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  5. ^ "Rav David Yosef Shlita Will Not Run in Jerusalem Race". Yeshiva World News. October 8, 2014.
  6. ^ Jeremy Sharon (October 13, 2013). "Tens of thousands gather again in Jerusalem in remembrance of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef". The Jerusalem Post.
  7. ^ "Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's son David to take his place at Shas council". The Jerusalem Post. October 13, 2013.
  8. ^ https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/israel-news/2319924/the-torch-has-been-passed-hagaon-harav-david-yosef-elected-sephardic-chief-rabbi-of-israel.html