Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, spiritual leader of the Shas party, underwent surgery on his back on Tuesday after checking into Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem early Sunday afternoon.
The hospital stay was Yosef’s second in as many weeks. The Shas party’s spiritual leader spent three days at Hadassah beginning last Sunday, after he complained of back pain following his arrival there for an examination.
The hospital said Yosef’s surgery was successful and that he was in stable condition and conscious.
President Shimon Peres called Yosef’s house, inquired after his condition and asked his family to convey wishes for a speedy recovery.
Yosef, 92, was lightly injured after he fainted and fell in his home earlier this month and has since then reportedly experienced pain in his back and leg. In January he was hospitalized for several days after suffering a minor stroke.
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Last weekend, Yosef suffered from increased pain in his leg and was unable to give his weekly Shabbat sermon.
The Baghdad-born, outspoken Yosef served as the Sephardi chief rabbi from 1973 to 1983. He is a noted authority on Jewish law and the spiritual leader of the Shas political party.
Gavriel Fiske contributed to this report.
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