Avishai Ben Haim on Maran Rabbi Ovadia: "He descended to the people and bore their suffering"

Dr. Avishai Ben Haim devoted his remarks on the show "HaPatriyotim" to the figure of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef ztz"l, marking 13 years since his passing. Ben Haim explained the Rabbi's teaching on leadership, using the parable of the "tzaddik in the fur coat," and compared his leadership to that of Menachem Begin and Benjamin Netanyahu.

Dr. Avishai Ben Haim, on the program "HaPatriyotim" on Channel 14, devoted his remarks to the figure and teaching of Maran Rabbi Ovadia Yosef ztz"l, marking 13 years since his passing. Ben Haim explained the Rabbi's conception of leadership, drawing on the story of Noah. According to Ben Haim, the Rabbi saw Noah as an example of deficient leadership – "a tzaddik who walked only with God, but was disconnected from the people of Israel and their suffering." A true leader, by contrast, according to the Rabbi, must "descend to the people and bear their suffering." Ben Haim used the well-known parable of the "tzaddik in the fur coat": a tzaddik who wraps himself in a fur coat and warms only himself, as opposed to a true tzaddik who lights a great furnace and warms the entire people. Ben Haim connected this to other leaders in the national camp, saying: "There are great tzaddikim in our leadership who warmed the entire people, and were burned in the great fire of the opponents." The article is mainly a report of Ben Haim's words, using direct quotations.