Rav Ovadia's will revealed: inheritance to Rabbi Moshe Yosef

The will of Hagaon R' Ovadia Yosef zt"l is revealed: this morning (Sunday), Army Radio reporter Yair Sharkey reporated of the will of Harav Ovadia Yosef zt"l, leader of the Shas party.

According to the will, all funds, apartments and property are passed to his youngest son, Rabbi Moshe Yosef, who lived in his home and was close to him in recent years – as a complete gift.

Harav Ovadia also gave his son the full rights to the issuance and sale of the books he wrote, and so too possession of numerous manuscripts he left, and the huge library located in the house on Hakablan Street.

According to the document uncovered, Harav Ovadia ruled that his son could make of the property "as he sees fit and at his discretion", and in addition he orders his brothers not to stop him. The Rav added that the document is determining and eliminates other documents.

At the head of the uncovered document it states that it was written in 2005 and was deposited in the hands of Attorney David Glass who was considered close and confidant of Harav Ovadia.

In addition, the letter noted that it replaces four previous letters, those sent by the Rabbi in previous years which were stolen from the office of Attorney Glass in a robbery.

Other family members were left with the apartment on Hakablan Street, and whose value is about 10 million shekels and personal items of the rabbi.

Currently silence reigns among family members about the issue, though proceedings concerning family issues been underway for a long time.

Wording of the will:
Greetings and much salvation,

I hereby confirm that I repeat what I have already written to you several times recently (on 28th Adar 5757, and 25th Tishrei 5758 and 12th Tevet 5761, and 15th Tevet 5762) when I learned that these letters were lost during a break into your office.

A. First, I again acknowledge that all activities of my dear son Rabbi Moshe shlita with moneys at my disposal, both in bank accounts on my name, whether for cash, checks, in selling and buying real estate or movable assets, and the like were made according to my will and I asked that he would not be disturbed.
B. Apartments and properties listed in the name of Rav Moshe shlita are given him as a total and complete gift in a total acquisition. He will do with them as he pleases and no one can disturb him.

C. I hereby clarify that because I gave as gift to my son Rabbi Moshe by complete and total property funds to be used for worthy objectives in his discretion and for the sake of these actions he opened an account in his name, which at the time of writing this letter is in the bank... These funds were transferred by me to my son Rabbi Moshe shlita both by checks and cash as well as bank transfers.

D. It is my wish that all expenses and selling of books which I wrote and which I shall write B"H will all be done by my son Rabbi Moshe shlita and he is the owner of rights from now and forever. And he shall do with them as he sees fit and no one can stop him. Proceeds from the sale of these books will be used firstly for other books, and earnings will be in the hands of Rabbi Moshe shlita and he will use them at hiss discretion.

E. All manuscripts I wrote and will write with G-d's help, both those which are held by Rabbi Gad Yazdi or by Rabbi Tzvi Hakak (personal assistant to a Harav Ovadia, J. S), or by others, all belong to my son Rabbi Moshe had and he will do with them as he sees fit and no one is allowed to make any use of them.

F. All the books in my library both those including handwritten notes and not, and Torah scrolls in the synagogue next to my home are all dedicated to my son Rav Moshe shlita. And he shall do with them as he sees fit.

G. All of the above is valid now and forever. I would ask you, my friend, that you keep this letter in your trustworthy hands and that you will act (you or your messenger) as necessary with all your might that the above will shall be fulfilled in the fullest.

Sincerely

Ovadia Yosef

At the bottom of the page:

10th Shvat 5772:

I sign and verify again the above said

In the presence of my friend Attorney R' David Glass shlita

Ovadia Yosef

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!