November 10, 2013 marked the Sh’loshim, 30 days, since Rav Ovadiah Yosef’s death and, as such, Shaarei Orah, the first Sephardic congregation in Teaneck, hosted a eulogy for him on that date. The Divrei Hespeid was given by R’ Eli Mansour, one of the world’s leading Sephardic rabbis and current rabbi at The Edmond J. Safra Synagogue in Brooklyn.

His speech highlighted Talmudic teachings, Rabbinical decisions, Pesakim and Halachot of Rav Ovadia. It also described Rav Ovadia Yosef’s ability to skillfully balance a stringent commitment to the laws of Shabbat and Kashrut while also using his experience and knowledge to know when to be more lenient, particularly in cases involving marriage and divorce.

Rabbi Mansour charged the audience with carrying on the legacy of Rav Ovadia Yosef; they too, like Rav Ovadia, should strive to transmit Torah to people of all knowledge levels and try to leave lasting impacts on world Jewry.