Ovadia Yosef (Hebrew: עובדיה יוסף) (Arabic: عوفاديا يوسف) (born September 23, 1920) is an Iraqi-born former Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel, a recognised Talmudic scholar and foremost halakhic authority. He currently serves as the spiritual leader of the Shas political party in the Israeli parliament. His halakhic responsa are highly regarded within Orthodox circles and are considered binding in many Mizrahi communities, among whom he is regarded as "the most important living halachic authority."
