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An estimated 15,000 people were on hand at the intersection of Shmuel HaNavi and Bar Ilan Streets in Yerushalayim on Tuesday night for the shloshim event for Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef ZT”L.

Among the speakers were Shas MKs Eli Yishai and Yisrael Atias. It is clear that Deri permitted Yishai to speak after coming under harsh criticism for not including him in the event that marked the conclusion of the shiva.

Others speakers included Rabbi Shalom Cohen Shlita, Rishon L’Tzion Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef Shlita, Rabbi Shimon Ba’adani Shlita, Rabbi Yehuda Deri Shlita, Rabbi Yaakov Addis Shlita, Rabbi David Cohen Shlita and Admor Rabbi David Abuchatzera Shlita.

A pamphlet was distributed by Rabbi Moshe Shlomo Amar Shlita to participants in the event, with some viewing this as an effort by the former Rishon L’Tzion to return to his former standing prior to his dispute with Maran surrounding the Chief Rabbinate of Israel election.

The gadol hador’s children and grandchildren visited his kever on Wednesday morning. The rav’s sons invited former Rishon L’Tzion Eliyahu Bakshi-Doron to recite the Askara for their father.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)