If one did not know that one is in the Sanhedria Beis Hachaim one might think one is walking on Malchei Yisrael Street where paintings of gedolei yisrael are sold. However, this is not a sidewalk in the Geula area of Yerushalayim, but a beis hachaim, the one which Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef ZT”L is buried.

Like it or not the cemetery has become a commercial center for those selling pictures and much more to immortalize the late posek hador. There are paintings for sale ranging between 50-300 NIS, letters in Sifrei Torah and other artifacts. Many mispallalim continue to visit the cemetery daily to see the kever and matzeivah, to be mispallel or just connect with the reality.

The photo shows a screenshot from a Walla News video which captured many of the paintings of Maran ZT”L on sale at the site.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)