JERUSALEM (JTA) — Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, the spiritual leader of the Shas Party, has been hospitalized for the third time in a week and is on a respirator.

Yosef was taken to Hadassah Hospital – Ein Kerem on Sunday night, hours after visiting the hospital for tests.

The rabbi, 92, who had back surgery in July after fainting and hurting himself, was hospitalized for five days last week for a recurrence of back pain, according to reports. He has a stroke in January.

The rabbi is conscious and remains able to communicate, Haaretz reported, citing family members.