R’ Eliyahu Ovadia, younger brother of the renowned Gadol Hador, Maran Hagaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef ZATZAL, has passed away at the age of 89. The funeral will take place tomorrow (Monday) in Kfar Warburg near Kiryat Malachi.

R’ Eliyahu served in the Irgun and was renowned for fighting in the war of Independence of Israel. In stories that were told by his brother Rabbi Naim Alav Hashalom, Eliyahu was featured for throwing a handgrenade into a truck full of British soldiers. He also buried an explosive in a pile of gunpowder in a major intersection in the Romema neighbohood where many British soldiers passed. These stories and more are written on the Irgun website.

Following the battle with the British, Eliyahu enlisted in the IDF and served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the paratrooper’s brigade. His son, Rabbi Avner Ovadia serves as the Chief Rabbi of Kfar Tavor.

Rabbi Eliyahu was the last surviving member of the Ovadia family of this generation. He was succeeded by 4 children, the oldest of which was a flight commander in the IAF. He was blessed with 17 grandchildren.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)