Upon seeing King Phillip VI of Spain the Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Yizchak Yosef made a benediction one says when seeing a monarch: “Blessed are you G-d, our Lord King of the world that gave of His honor on a man of flesh and blood.”
This all took place in the King’s palace during a special ceremony celebrating 100 years since Jews were allowed to return to Spain after the Spanish Inquisition in 1492. The benediction pronounced by Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef was the climax of this visit. The king asked Israel president Reuven Rivlin to translate what the rabbi’s benediction meant and when the president translated it for him King Phillip was very emotional about the blessing said upon seeing him and the respect Judaism accords a monarch.
The father of King Phillip VI, King Phillip V and former Chief Rabbi the late Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, the father of present Chief Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef were friends. President Rivlin pointed out that “Both of you are continuing the paths of your fathers who both did great things for their nations.”
