Teaneck, NJ—Two major Roshei Yeshiva visited Teaneck two weeks ago  to pay tribute to Rav Ovadiah Yosef, z’tl, who was niftar three weeks ago. More than 75 people gathered at the home of Dr. Daniel Hakimi to listen to what the two Ashkenazi leaders had to say about a leading rabbi who came from the Sephardic tradition.

Dr. Hakimi introduced the program by speaking about how he met Rav Yosef as a young refugee from Iran and was assured he would see his family again after they escaped. Amazingly, the day after he met with R’ Yosef, he was reunited with his family. This experience is etched in his memory and although he never spoke to Rav Yosef again, he retains strong positive feelings for him. He said he was motivated to bring together two great Torah personalities like Rav Kahn and Rav Kotler to represent achdus and create a Kiddush Hashem in the wake of the Rav Yosef’s petirah.

Dr. Hakimi also displayed a unique Sephardic sefer Torah rescued from Iraq by the U.S. that is reputed to have been used by Ben Ish Chai (Chacham Yosef Chaim) of Baghdad in the 19th century.

Both Rav Kotler and Rav Kahn presented various ideas designed to highlight different aspects of Rav Yosef’s greatness as a Torah scholar and leader who brought Torah to the masses and was loved by so many. Rav Kotler attempted to discover the secret of the love that so many felt for Rav Yosef.

Rav Kahn emphasized how Rav Yosef was able to, almost singlehandedly, raise the prominence of Torah study in the Sephardic community and make it “a centerpiece” of their lives.

By Moshe Kinderlehrer