“I do not get involved with Divine calculations. Hashem does whatever is necessary, and I accept His decrees with love.” As Rav Yaakov Yosef battles an illness that has a 5 percent survival rate, he spoke candidly about his prognosis, his commitment not to deviate from his intense Torah schedule, and his belief in the goodness of Divine decrees. He’s not embarrassed to beseech the public for their prayers, yet refuses to buckle under the burden of his fate.
It’s four o’clock in the morning and daybreak has yet to arrive but Mearas HaMachpeilah in Chevron is filled with people. Dozens of people regular visitors and others await the monthly shiur delivered by Rav Yaakov Yosef.
Speculation is in the air at the kollel vasikin in Mearas HaMachpeilah. Will Rav Yosef even show up? After last week’s dire announcement that the Rav the firstborn son of Rav Ovadiah Yosef is battling for his life with pancreatic cancer the regulars — and the first-timers who came especially to hear him — are not sure.
Rav Yaakov Yosef appears at his usual spot — walking with confidence and exuding strength — and begins to deliver his shiur on hilchos mamzeirus. A glance at his face reveals neither the days of difficulty he has experienced nor the intense treatments he has undergone. The shiur is presented in his trademark clear flowing language.
“I Am an Optimist”
The Rav is brutally honest with himself and doesn’t shy away from difficult questions. As soon as Shacharis is over he consents to an interview patiently answering even the most personal questions.
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