Rabbi Yaron Reuven tells a story from Rav Gideon ben Moshe, a close student of Rav Ovadia Yosef for 30 years, about how he became Gadol HaDor and Chief Rabbi of Israel. In the beginning Rav Ovadia & his family sacrificed everything learning Torah in dire poverty. Then Rav Ovadia took his love for Torah and dedicated his life to helping the Jewish people at all costs. Eventually his Torah knowledge became undeniable and he was appointed as Chief Rabbi of Israel and head of Sephardic Jewry around the world.