CHACHAM OVADIA YOSEF ZT”L

Sephardi Chief Rabbi
Founder of Shas Party

Chacham HaRav Ovadia Yosef was an Iraqi-born Talmudic scholar and posek known throughout the world for his outstanding in-depth knowledge of the Torah. As the halachic authority and scholar of Sephardi Jewry, HaRav Ovadia worked tirelessly to inject the Sephardi population with pride and confidence in their heritage. Chacham Ovadia served as the Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel from 1973—1983.

In 1984, Chacham Ovadia founded the Shas party to increase the representation of Sephardic Jews in the Knesset. Under his leadership, the Shas Party toiled to preserve the Jewish character of the State and ensure that authentic Torah Judaism would grow and flourish in Eretz Yisrael.

Maran R’ Yitzchak Yosef 

Maran Hagaon Rishon Letzion R' Yitzhak Yosef Shlita President of Moetzet
Chachmei Hatorah

Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef shlita is the son of Maran Chacham Ovadia Yosef zt”l. Born in 1952 in Jerusalem, R’ Yosef is the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Hazon Ovadia and a renowned halachic authority. 

Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef served as the Rishon LeZion from 2013—2023, after which he became president of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah. R’ Yosef toils to strengthen authentic Torah values and traditions, especially among the youth.  

R’ Arye Deri

Chairman of Shas

R’ Arye Makhlouf Deri was born in Morocco and immigrated to Israel during childhood. 

Known for his care and social responsibility, Rabbi Arye Deri always prioritizes the welfare of the public. Throughout his tenure as Minister of the Interior and Chairman of the Shas party, R’ Deri worked to improve childhood education, support needy families, and strengthen Jewish tradition in Israel.