Ovadia Yosef, rabbi and Israeli kingmaker, dies at 93  Gwen
Ackerman  Published: Monday, Oct. 7 2013 7:51 a.m. MDT  File -
In this Dec. 5, 2002 file photo, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef sits
surrounded by members of his staff during a rally of his Ultra-
Orthodox Shas party in Jerusalem.  Enric Marti, Associated Press
Yosef was often called the outstanding Sephardic rabbinical
authority of the century. His prominence helped boost the
confidence of his community, which makes up roughly half of
Israel's population but was long impoverished and faced
discrimination by Ashkenazi — or European — Jews who
traditionally dominated Israel's government and religious
institution.   For three decades, Yosef held the final word over
the party's decisions, with its leaders seeking his guidance
over matters large and small. Without a clear successor, Shas is
likely to enter a period of infighting and see its political
influence diminished.  As hospital officials announced his
death, anguished cries could be heard from a large crowd