Members of the Merkaz Sepharad Chabad in Crown Heights gathered this past Tuesday night in honor of the Shloshim of Harav Ovadia Yosef OBM on 3 Kislev.
Divrei Chizuk and interesting stories were told by the Rav of the Shul, Rabbi Eliezer (Lazer) Avtzon who spoke about the great Ahavat Yisroel of Harav Yosef and his work in helping freeing Agunot, especially after the various wars in Israel.
Among the stories told, was one time when Rav Yosef was sick and was taken to the hospital and was told he must undergo an immediate operation. Upon hearing the seriousness of the operation, Rav Yosef asked to be excused for a few hours, saying he would return shortly. In fact, he returned some three or four hours later, and underwent the operation successfully. Upon his recovery, family members and doctors asked him what was so important that he had to leave for those few hours. Rav Yosef answered that he was in the midst of writing a Psak to permit an Agunah to remarry and when he heard how serious the operation was, he decided to return home to finish writing the Psak in the event he would not recover Chas Veshalom, and thus leave the Agunah in distress.
Rabbi Yaacov Biton, Shliach of the Rebbe to Sarcelles, France spoke about his greatness in Halacha and his being a true Rav, never scared to say his opinion. He spoke of the famous controversy between the Psak of Harav Chaim Naeh and the Chazon Ish regarding the size of a Kazayit and how Rav Yosef ruled according to the Psak of Harav Chaim Naeh, stating that Ashkenazim could not not know the actual size and weight of a Drham (Moroccan coin) and that he concluded in accord with Rav Chaim Neáh based on his statement that as Rav of the Shchunat Habucharim, he consulted with Sefardic Rabbonim in calculating the sizes.
Rabbi Mordechai Avtzon of Hong Kong and Head Shliach of the Rebbe to Asia also spoke Divrei Torah and Chizuk in memory of the Rav.
Following Maariv, a Chassidishe farbrenegen was held in honor of Rabbi Avtzon’s 50th birthday that same night which continued until 2:00 AM.
Merkaz Sephard is located on the corner of Crown and Albany Avenues and has daily Minyanim for Shachrit at 7:00 AM plus all Tefilot of Shabbat and Yom Tov, as well as many Shiurim throughout the week.
Rabbi Avtzon is an amazing rov, shliach and human being.
He didn’t talk to this son for many years. From an insider relative
He Had a son who was a full pleged Lubavitcher Chosid.
One more Check for Rav Ovadia Yoseph.
I love how they’re all eating sephardi food
One thing needs to be pointed out, the Agunos that R’ Ovadia Yosef worked on behalf of were real agunos, wives of soldiers whose husbands had disappeared in war. These are the agunos that ChaZaL speak of. This has nothing to do with mordos or the modern, halachically incorrect version.