Day of Hilula
Rabbi Ovadia Yosef
ג׳ בחשוון
Jerusalem, Israel
In Jewish tradition, the day of a tzadik's passing — the 'Hilula' — is not a day of mourning, but a day of spiritual elevation and awakening. According to the teachings of Kabbalah, on this day the soul of the tzadik ascends to a higher realm, and their light and merits shine upon the world. Many Jews mark the day through Torah study, reciting Tehillim, lighting a memorial candle, and good deeds for the elevation of the soul — to connect with the tzadik's path and qualities.
His Life and Legacy
The Torah, educational, and public legacy of Maran continues to guide the Sephardic and Mizrahi communities in Israel and throughout the Diaspora. His book series Yabia Omer and Hazon Ovadia have become foundational works in rabbinical courts and study halls. The Shas movement he founded continued to operate according to the lines he laid down, and his sons and students continue to disseminate his Torah teachings. The educational network he established educates tens of thousands of students each year. His figure has become a symbol of Sephardic pride and of the redress of social injustice, and his influence is evident both in the world of halakhah and in Israel’s public and political sphere.
"Never be overly exacting; always be compassionate and understanding."