The Torah world held its breath on Sunday night when the news spread that Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef Shlita had fallen and was being transported to a hospital by ambulance.

YWN-ISRAEL reported that Chacham Ovadia fell as he was heading from his room preparing for tefillas Maariv. Shortly following his arrival in Hadassah Ein Kerem a senior physician came to examine him. When the doctor left the room, the Gadol Hador did not inquire as to his condition, but asked “What is going to be with Maariv? I still didn’t daven,” the weekly BaKehilla reports. Those present quickly arranged for a minyan to permit the rav to daven in his room.

The report adds the Posek HaDor told his family “What am I going to do here? Where are my seforim” he questioned. Baruch Hashem, Rav Ovadia was released the following day but a glimpse at this Gadol Hador shows his only concerns surrounded the interruption in his limud, not his condition or anything else going on.

It is added that upon his return home, his first question was “What is going on with the bnei yeshivos”, wishing to know what is taking place regarding government efforts to draft them. Persons close to the rav report this has obsessed the rav; his concern over the fact the government is actively working to curtail limud Torah.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)