Letter block, in Maran Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef’s distinctive handwriting, orderly and clear, with a list of hundreds [approximately 350] Arabic songs, divided into groups by songwriter and type of song. It is known that Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef enjoyed Arabic song, especially by singer Abed El-Wahhab. This booklet indeed has an extensively detailed list of songs he wrote and composed, divided into groups, according to type of song and classification: long, new, best. It is also known that the rabbi requested that Hebrew words be composed for Wahhab’s songs. There are also songs by the following artists listed in this notebook: Leila Mourad, Farid, Asmahan, Umm Kulthum and others. There is also a long list of “songs we have,” 124 songs listed alphabetically. The date “Chanukah eve, 1963” appears at the top of the list. This is a historic item, an exciting glimpse into the personal space, even intimate, of a rabbinic leader. He is known for his halachic rulings, his leadership of Sephardic Jewry and of the Shas movement. In this booklet, we are exposed to an unfamiliar-to-the-public part of him, the rabbi’s only hobby – “oppressive” and “mournful” Arabic songs. (Aside from the Torah, his soul’s joy, which he studied day and night). Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef [1920-2013], was the chief rabbi of Israel, “The Rishon LeTziyon,” spiritual leader and president of the Shas party’s Council of Torah Sages [מועצת חכמי התורה], senior Sephardic rabbi of his generation, known as “Posek HaDor” [adjudicator of the generation]. His period was the golden age of Sephardic Jewry in the Land of Israel. Approximately half a million people participated in his funeral, the largest funeral in the history of the state of Israel. [7] leaves. 17×24 cm. Very fine condition. Reinforced with tape.