Rabbi Salman Mutzafi (Kabbalist of the Previous Generation)

Rabbi Salman Mutzafi (27 Shevat 5660/1900 - 17 Tevet 5734/1974) was one of the rare giants of Torah of the previous generation. He was of a true Kabbalist in the fullest sense of the word - but read on to understand what that really means.

He was born in Baghdad - home of the Ben Ish Chai - Rabbi Yosef Chaim and though he was only 9 years old when the Ben Ish Chai died - he was already enamored by him - never having had his thirst quenched from this giant of Torah. In those very young years of his life, he would do everything he could to push through the crowds of people listening to the Shiurim of the Ben Ish Chai - to catch a glimpse of this giant, to kiss his hands, to listen to some words of true holiness - and to receive his blessings for his own success in his life. It seems those blessings came to fruition too...

His family had come out from amongst the exile from Spain many years before - then known as the Musafiya family - but due to people not pronouncing his name correctly - it was eventually changed to Mutzafi. His father would take him to Shul at the tender age of 2 so that he would be surrounded by the images of the leading Tzaddikim of that time - and so that he would absorb only words of Kedusha (holiness) and Tahara (purity.) He began studying in "Midrash Talmud Torah" at the young age of 5 - and make no mistake - he become thoroughly absorbed in everything he studied - being unable to take himself away from the holy words of Torah... for his entire life. At the age of 6 he was already completely fluent in reciting the entire Torah with all it's musical cantilations and correct grammar off by heart!

At the age of 9, he left his home secretly in order to attend the funeral of the Ben Ish Chai - and accepted upon himself to devote his life to Torah study with an added measure of separation and holiness - as the casket of the Ben Ish Chai was lowered into the ground. He would tie a string to his finger and run it through to the door of his father's room and tie it gently on the handle - so that when his father would awaken at midnight to begin his recitation of Tikun Chatzos and study of Torah - he would wake up himself to join him.

When his father died, he sanctified all his time to Torah study and to live a life of great modesty away from the fanfare and matters of the community - and to immerse himself in the Kavanot (mystical intentions of prayer) of the Rashash (Rabbi Shalom Sharabi.)

By the tender age of 16 - he had already worked through the entire Tur (presumably with all the commentaries) - a monumental work and a tremendous effort to work through for even the average Torah scholar - years older than he was then. At the age of 18, he was certified as a Shochet (ritual slaughter) and a Mohel. He was also respected by the Muslim community. He joined his teacher - the great kabbalist Rabbi Yehuda Petaya in the year 5695/1935 in the Holy Land - a year after his teacher had already arrived.

For two years, he studied the Kavanot (mystical intentions) of the Rashash. He would take one hour to recite the Kriat Shema! He would take two hours to recite the morning blessings! He would spend his days and nights immersed in performing the holy Yichudim - unifications - in order to draw down abundant blessing to all the worlds and to hasten the redemption.

He was very careful with the Kashrut of food and during the Shemita year (as is this year), he would travel out on his own to the non-Jewish fields in order to obtain his fruits and vegetables.

In 5708/1948 - due to the danger of Jewish life at that precarious time in Jewish history, he moved his Yeshiva "Bnei Tzion" - which focused on the study of Zohar and Kabbalah, from Kever Rachel to the "Tevig" Shul in Rashbam Street Jerusalem. When the money he had brought with him from Iraq had run out, he took over the running of the "Ohel Rachel" Shul for the sake of providing Parnassah to him and his family - and refused to make use of his Torah knowledge as a means to obtain his Parnassah.

He immersed himself in the meditations and mystical intentions of the Rashash Siddur for a period of 40 years and never stopped discovering new novel insights into Torah. He was fluent in all four areas of Torah - Pardes - Peshat (simple meaning,) Remez (hint/allusion/gematria,) Drush (homiletic,) and Sod (secret / Kabbalah).

He was an expert in the secrets of calculating the calendar times and astronomy. Even though Rabbi Yehuda Petaya gave him Semicha so that he be known as "Chacham" (a wise man - in the language of the Sefardi lexicon, and surely the greatest of compliments to indicate his level of learning,) he was strict that nobody refer to him in that way.

Close to midnight on Tuesday evening in the year 5735, his life situation became severe. He asked for a glass of tea, made a blessing upon it, drank, lay on his right side, recited the Kriat Shema  and returned his soul to it's Maker.

Yahrtzeit - 4 Shevat - Rabbi Yisrael Abuchatzeira - Baba Sali

YAHRTZEIT

BABA SALI

TZADDIK AND AUTHENTIC KABBALIST

RABBI YISRAEL ABUCHATZEIRA

4 SHEVAT

Born: 1890 (Rosh HaShanah)
Died: 1984

Rabbi Yisrael Abuchatzeira is one of the most famous miracle rabbis known today. He was born in Morocco and made Aliyah much later in his life. 

He was known as an Admor (meaning the equivalent of a Chassidic Rebbe) and had the additional abbreviation Meluban added after his name – meaning “accustomed to miracles”. He was a true servant of G-d in every sense of the word, wanting nothing else in his life than to fulfil G-d’s wishes. Although an Admor in his own right, he had a strong connection with many of the other Chassidic Rebbe’s including the Lubavitcher Rebbe. There is a famous correspondence between the two. The Baba Sali wanted very much to learn and live by the Lubavitcher Rebbe i.e. in New York with him. The Rebbe wrote back telling him that G-d had blessed him with powers that were meant to help those in Israel where he ended up living. It was because of this that the Baba Sali ended up settling where he did!

He was an authentic Kabbalist – not like the popular “Kabbalist” of today’s generation. He did not use his “magical powers” to perform things to show off. On the contrary, it was because he was so attached to G-d at all times, that “The Tzaddik decrees and G-d fulfils.” He never made use of his knowledge of practical Kabbalah. His powers and Ruach HaKodesh came not from practical use of G-d’s Names and the like, but rather because of his extreme holiness!

His father was the first born son of Rebbi Yaakov Abuchatzeira – well known for his knowledge of Kabbalah and his complete devotion to Hashem. He in turn was a direct descendant of Rebbi Shmuel Elbaz – a pupil of Rabbi Chaim Vital, the student of the holy Arizal!

The most famous story concerns how “Elbaz” became known as Abuchatzeira. In those days, it is told, one person from the Yeshiva would go around collecting the necessary funding to help the Yeshiva (and those learning in it) to be supported monetarily. There were no cars in those days, and in fact, in order to build up wealth, it was necessary to travel overseas – and that was done *without* an airplane! The only means to do so was by ship.

In the Yeshiva where Rabbi Shmuel Elbaz (a great Tzaddik himself!) learned, they decided to cast lots by drawing thin sticks from the hand of one person. Various sizes were placed in the hand, making them all look the same size. The person picking out the shortest stick would be chosen for the arduous journey across the sea. As things turned out, this time it was Rabbi Shmuel who chose that “unwanted” stick, and he set out immediately onto his Shlichus (mission) to bring in the funding necessary to simply continue living and be able to continue learning.

Rabbi Shmuel was a humble man. He set out to the dock, and saw a ship ready to set sail. The fee to board it was a high one, and Rabbi Shmuel lacked the money to purchase a ticket. What would he do?! He approached the captain and asked him if he could perhaps board it, and take up some lodging aboard the ship where the storage rooms were. A place perhaps – where brooms were stored – and there would be just enough room for him to stay closeted in. The captain refused. 

Rabbi Shmuel told the captain that he would be delighted to work for his boarding of course! He would clean the deck, serve the passengers food, whatever it would take. The captain refused.

There was nothing Rabbi Shmuel could say or do to convince the captain to take him aboard. Rabbi Shmuel knew well the importance of his mission and realised that he would still travel – no matter what! The ship set sail shortly thereafter. As it did so, Rabbi Shmuel took out a mat that he had brought with him to sit upon. He threw it open upon the waters. The mat floated. Rabbi Shmuel sat on top of it… and it continued to float, moving at the same pace as the large ship. Suddenly people were shouting about at the miracle they were seeing in front of their eyes. The commotion alerted the captain, who realised that his “poor Jewish peddler beggar” was in reality a very great man – a Tzaddik. Naturally he offered him a wonderful cabin onboard with all sorts of delights to honour the great Tzaddik!

Rabbi Shmuel declined, and continued the entire journey next to the ship until he reached his destination! From the day this story became known, Rabbi Shmuel became known as Abu Chatzeira – or the translation of these Arabic words, “Father of the Mat.” Since then, all of his descendants have been known as Abuchatzeira.

Of course, his descendants did not only inherit this prestigious name, but also the ability to perform miracles – naturally!

To tell the stories about Rabbi Yisrael Abuchatzeira, would fill volumes of books, and indeed many have been printed. Each better than the next, filled with stories most of us would think of only as fantasy and fairy tales. Ironically – they’re true!

Being a holy man, Rabbi Yisrael guarded his eyes from any site forbidden by the Torah. He would wear a cloak around him that completely shielded him from anything “unsightly”. In addition, he would usually walk, accompanied by his Gabbai (sexton) wherever he went – even when it was to the Mikvah! In this way, he could keep his eyes on the ground without bumping into anything.

A story is told of the young Rabbi Yisroel. He came home from school one day and approached his father R’ Massoud. He told his father that he had been in class, and one of his classmates had done something terrible (R' Yisroel never stood for injustice!), and so he had considered cursing him for it! R’ Massoud scolded R’ Yisrael and told him that his mouth would be used for giving blessings when he would get older – blessings that would be fulfilled, and that he should never use it for bad things. Needless to say, R’ Yisrael never spoke any bad word again. Indeed his mouth was used for blessings, and the very words themselves would cause miracles to happen.

He was also known for his miracle of making Arak (a very strong alcoholic beverage) appear from nowhere. He would have a celebration at his home, inviting many guests – who he promised would never get drunk from drinking Arak while with him. Nobody ever did! When the Arak would reach the bottom of the bottle, R’ Yisrael would place a cloth over the bottle, and then continue to pour as if pouring from a full bottle. The Arak never ended.

R’ Yisrael wasn’t known for his celebrating though. On the contrary, he spent much time fasting. So much so that one can see from the thinness of his body – just how much he must have fasted! Often, R’ Yisrael would undertake a very dangerous fast – known in Kabbalah as a Taanis Hafsaka – an interrupted fast! It is called “interrupted” because the fast begins after Shabbat, and continues until the beginning of the next Shabbat (which interrupts it!) There is no eating or drinking during this entire time. So great is this fast, that the Kabbalah speaks of it as being the equivalent of thousands of ordinary fasts!!! (NOTE: This should NOT be undertaken by ANYONE! Fasting in general is something that needs to be discussed with one’s Rabbi before doing anything like this. There are far greater ways of doing Teshuva today than to weaken the body and find oneself unable to do anything as a result, or worse, become severely sick!) In addition, R’ Yisrael would recite the Tikkun Chatzot prayer (midnight prayer for the destruction of the Temple) every single night – after which he would study Torah until the morning and then pray.

R’ Yisrael had already begun this holy path of life even before he was 13 years old! His older brother R’ Dovid HY”D (a very great Tzaddik who was killed Al Kiddush Hashem!) noticed him the first time he undertook this fast, and seeing his weakness (hidden from everyone else apparently!) he scolded his brother telling him that there was no reason for someone so young to have to fast. He wasn’t even BarMitzvah – what could he have done wrong?! The truth is that R’ Yisrael had never done anything wrong. His entire life was devoted completely to G-d.

The stories concerning his level of Kashrut are legendary. He refused to eat any processed food, and only ate from what his wife would cook for him. He had his own private Shochet who he trusted (and tested!) and would eat no other meat! (A far cry from today’s “Kashrut experts” who believe that any food product with any sign that indicates that it is Kosher means it is Kosher, not having a clue about the actual standards used!)

Such a Tzaddik comes into this world but once in many many generations. His Brochas are legendary, and those who read about this great Tzaddik today long to receive a blessing from him.

His eldest son R’ Meir died just months before he did. In fact, R’ Yisrael said that after his son died, there was no reason for him to continue living, and died within the year! R’ Meir had five sons – Rav Elazar (murdered 27 Tammuz 5771 by Asher Dahan) Rav Dovid, Rav Refael, Rav Yeshua Ve'Rachamim and Rav Yekutiel. All the sons are outstanding Mekubalim in their own rights. Rav Dovid has a Yeshiva in Nahariya. The Baba Sali had another son - Baba Baruch - born to him in his old age. 

The Baba Sali is buried in Netivot where he lived for the last years of his life.

Also see: Abir Yaakov & The Baba's Promise

If you are interested in purchasing any of the books of the Abir Yaakov (Baba Sali's grandfather,) Rabbi Dovid HY"D (Baba Sali's brother) or biographies about the family, be in touch with Reb Eliyahu. Books are sent from the Holy Land of Israel!

Light a candle for Baba Sali

Yisrael ben Massoud

May the merit of this Tzaddik stand by us all

and help us in being granted

all the salvations that each of us needs.

Yahrtzeit - 26 Elul - Rabbi Chaim Pinto - Kabbalist

Rabbi Chaim Pinto
Yahrtzeit 26 Elul

Born: Mogador, Morocco, ?
Died: Mogador, Morocco, 1845

Chief rabbi of the Jewish community of Mogador. Kabbalist.

A man of wonders and miracles during his lifetime, and for those who visit his grave site.

The Magic Wine Cup

In the days before Passover, a stranger was seen wandering through the streets of Mogador in the land of Morocco. Even though he was dressed in rags, he did not look like a beggar, and from the fringes on the garment he was wearing it was clear that he was a Jew.

Some of Rabbi Chaim Pinto's students wondered about this man when they saw him in the city market. And when they returned to the Yeshivah, they told the rabbi about him. Rabbi Pinto had them describe the man in great detail. Then he asked them if the man had looked happy or sad. They told the rabbi that he had looked terribly sad. Indeed, just looking at his face made them sad as well.

Now, Passover is a time to remember the poor, and it was Rabbi Pinto's custom to invite the poor Jews of the city to his Seder. So on the eve of Passover he sent his students into the city to bring back all the poor Jews they could find. He told them to search especially for the stranger they had told him about and to be sure that he came back with them.

So the rabbi's students searched every corner of the city for the poor, who were delighted to learn that they would have a place to celebrate the first night of Passover. But when the students finally found the stranger, he was sitting alone under a barren tree, and he refused to accompany them to the rabbi's Seder. "For you it is the holiday of Passover," he said, "but for me it is a time of mourning." The students did their best to persuade him, but in the end they returned empty-handed.

Now, when they told Rabbi Pinto that the man had refused their invitation, the rabbi said, "If you can't convince him to come here, whisper this word in his ear" and he whispered it to each of his students. So the students returned to the stranger, still sitting under the tree, and they tried once more to invite him to join the rabbi's Seder. Again he refused, but this time one of the students whispered the rabbi's word into the man's ear. And as soon as he heard it, the man's eyes opened wide. He stood up and agreed to accompany them at once.

When that Jew arrived at the rabbi's house, he was greeted warmly by Rabbi Pinto. The man returned the rabbi's greetings, and then he asked, "How is it, Rabbi, that you knew the name of the ship that brought about my misfortune?"

"Join our Seder," Rabbi Pinto replied, "and you will understand how it became known to me. For now, please make yourself at home. I will have a bath prepared for you, and my students will give you fresh clothing."

The man thanked the rabbi, but he was still curious about how he had known his secret.

That night, when everyone was seated at the sSder, Rabbi Pinto introduced the guest and asked him to tell the others his story. This he did. "I was born in the city of Marrakesh," he said, "and I travelled to Spain and worked there until I had become quite wealthy. After several years, I began to miss my native land of Morocco, and thought about returning there to raise a family. With all that I had saved, I bought precious jewels.

"There was a widow whom I befriended. When she learned I was planning to return to Morocco, where her daughter lives, she asked me to bring her daughter her rightful inheritance, jewels that had belonged to her father. I agreed to do so, and I carried everything in a wooden case. But when a storm sank the ship in which I was travelling, the case was lost at sea. Somehow I managed to grab a plank and reached the shores of this city a few weeks ago. I know that I am fortunate to be alive, but after all these years, I have nothing. Even so, that is not what grieves me the most. Above all, I am heartbroken that I cannot fulfill my mission for the widow."

Now, when all those seated at the Seder heard this story, their hearts went out to the poor man who had suffered such a misfortune. Among them, there was one beautiful young woman who had tears flowing down her face. And when the man saw her grief, he, too, broke down and wept.

Rabbi Pinto said, "Do not grieve as we celebrate the Seder, but watch closely." He pointed to the Kiddush cup, which was filled with wine, and pronounced a spell over it. That spell called forth Rahab, the Angel of the Sea.

Just then everyone at the table heard a deep voice say, "Yes, Rabbi Pinto, what is your command?" They trembled with fear, for they could not see where the voice was coming from. Then the rabbi said, "I call upon you, Rahab, Prince of the Sea, for help in finding what has been lost." Suddenly, to everyone's amazement, the Kiddush cup began to grow larger and larger, and the wine in it was transformed into the waves of the sea. One after another the waves rose and fell and eventually they cast up a small wooden case, which floated on the surface. The guest could hardly contain himself. "Master, that is my case!" he cried.

"Take it out!" said Rabbi Pinto. So the man reached into the enormous cup, took out the wooden case and set it on the table. At that instant the cup returned to its original size, and the waters in it became wine once more.

As everyone watched in awe, the man opened the case and saw that nothing was missing. He shed tears of joy. Then Rabbi Pinto said to him, "Now, let me introduce you to the widow's daughter to whom you were delivering the jewels." At that, the young woman who had wept at hearing the man's tale stood up with a radiant smile and the man almost fainted with surprise. When he had regained his composure, he picked up the wooden case and placed it in her hands, much to the delight of everyone present. Then Rabbi Pinto smiled and said, "Know that nothing happens by accident. All is foretold by the Holy One, blessed be He, as is your meeting here today, for now I can tell you that I heard a heavenly voice announce that you two are destined to wed."

So it was that everyone celebrated that Seder with great happiness, and not long after, the couple was wed. From then on, every Passover, when they filled the Kiddush cup, they told the story of Rabbi Pinto and the magic wine cup that had changed their lives.

May the merit of the tzaddik Rabbi Chaim Pinto protect us all, Amen.

For more information and stories about the Pinto dynasty, see: The Pinto Dynasty

Yahrtzeit - 21 Elul - Rabbi Yehonatan Eybeshitz

YYAHRTZEIT
ELUL 21

Rabbi Yehonatan Eybeshitz (ben Natan Neta)

Born: Cracow, Poland, 1690

Died: Poland, 1764

Rabbi Yehonatan Eybeshitz was a decendent from the family or Rabbi Natan Neta Shapirah- The Megale Amukot. An exceptional Talmudist, Halachist and Kabbalist, Rabbi Eybeschitz held positions as Dayan of Prague, and later rose to the position of Rabbi of the "Three Communities," Altona, Hamburg and Wandsbek.

He had contacts with Christian leaders of the period, debating religious and philosophical topics with them. His position was challenged on a number of occasions following allegations that he was a secret follower of the Shabbateanism, an outlawed movement centered around the false messiah Shabtai Zvi, despite Rabbi Eybeshitz supporting the excommunication of all Shabbatean followers. The controversy over whether Rabbi Eybeshitz was a Shabbatean spread to all major Jewish communities, and attacks by opponents lasted until his death.

Thirty of his works in the area of Halacha (Jewish law) have been published. In addition, several of his works on homiletics, teaching methodology, and Kabbalah are currently in print.

It is interesting to note that only one of his works was published in his lifetime. The posthumous printing of so many of his works is testimony to his influence on his contemporaries through his oral teachings and his personality.

Rabbi Yehonatan as a Child

The genius of Rabbi Eybeshitz was evident from his childhood. Aside from his immense knowledge of Torah, which he acquired at a very young age, he was also very clever and possessed a razor-sharp mind. One day he was walking to his cheder(school) in the early morning hours. As he walked, a teen-aged non-Jewish boy, seeing a Jew who would make a wonderful victim, leaped upon him and began beating him. Little Yehonatan began to cry at first, but then his clever mind asserted itself and he thought: "This is Esav, the wicked robber, and I will use my wits to overcome him." "Stop,stop," cried Yehonatan, "and I will give you the money that I have." When the bully heard this he allowed the little boy to get up from the ground. Reaching his pocket, Yehonatan took out two small coins and gave them to the bully. "Here," he said. "Today is a Jewish holiday. On this day any Jew who is beaten up by a non-Jew must give him all that he has in his pockets." The bully looked in astonishment at the little boy. "What idiots you Jews are," he exclaimed. "Who but you people would have such a crazy custom?" Taking his money, he walked away thinking "What a pitty that I hit such a small boy who only had a couple of small coins in his pocket. I had better find a wealthy Jew to beat. I will never have an opportunity like this for a long time." Suddenly he gasped in delight: "There is my victim! He should be good for a lot of money!" Passing by, was the Jewish communal leader of the city of Finsthov. He was the wealthiest man in town. Without further ado, the bully crossed over and leaped upon the man, beating him unmercifully. A crowd quickly gathered, among them a policeman who seized the bully, gave him a swift blow on the head and dragged him off to jail. the poor bully did not know what was happening. Why was he in jail? What had he done? He was only helping Jews celebrate their holiday. "All right," said the policeman, "why did you hit the head of the Jewish community?" "It wasn't my fault, I only did it because there is a Jewish holiday today when all Jews give money to anyone who hits them.". The policeman looked at the bully in astonishment. "Who told you this?"....

Still another time...

the wisdom of the little Yehonatan saved the Jews of Finsthov from their enemies. It happened that in town there was a Jew who owned a store that sold spices. His next door neighbor, a butcher, was an anti-Semite of long standing. Between both stores was a very thin wall made up of cheap boards. One day, after a very good business day, the Jew sat down to count the day's earnings. As he laid out all the coins of silver and copper on the table, he did not know that a pair of eyes were watching his every move. Looking through the cracks in the thin partition was the butcher. He watched and took note of each coin and then saw where the Jew put the money. The next morning he went to the police and told them that he had a large sum of money which he kept in the store and which had been stolen. He described the coins and then said: "I am sure my Jewish neighbor stole them." The police went to the Jewish store and sure enough, found the money. Nothing the Jew said could have save him. The proof and signs given by the butcher appeared to be clear and unmistakable evidence that the money was really his. Not only did the Jew face a severe prison term but the anti-Semites of the town now used the incident to agitate and fan the flames of hatred against all the Jews of the city. All the Jews gathered to discuss the terrible problem and find way to prove the innocence of the Jew. Little Yehonatan sat in his father's home - the father was the rabbi of the city, listening to the discussion. Then he asked permission to whisper something to his father: "Father, I know how you can prove that the Jew is innocent. If the money really belongs to the butcher, surely it will be covered with grease since he received it from his customers while he was selling them fatty meat. Let them take the coins and put them in water. If the fat floats to the surface, the Jew is guilty but if there is no fat it is a sign that it is really his and he is innocent." They did this and the truth came out. Yehonatan had saved the Jew from jail and the Jews of his town from persecution.

May the merit of the tzaddik Yehonatan Eybeshitz protect us all, Amen.

________________________

The Holy Arizal - Yahrtzeit 5 Av

THE HOLY ARIZAL – Yahrtzeit 5 Av

Rabbi Yitzchak Luria (1534-1572), whose Yahrtzeit is today – the 5^th day of Av, was one of the most influential true Kabbalists of all time. While Moses himself received the entire Torah from G-d at Mount Sinai, it would be up to Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai to make the inner secrets of Torah more easily accessible to the Jews forced into exile about 1000 years later. But even then, anyone taking a close examination at the Zohar realises that unless he understands the vocabulary used, the Zohar can be a mystery of nonsensical concepts, words and descriptions. In fact, while the Zohar revealed the inner secrets of Torah, it was exceptionally good at also concealing the mysteries of the Torah!

It would take a man on the level of the holy Arizal (the initials of his name being “The G-dly Rabbi Yitzchak") to be able to unravel the mysteries of understanding the Zohar and the entire kabbalistic tradition, and write them out in a more easily understood language. This he did by teaching his pupil Rabbi Chaim Vital the most important principles to understand. The entire tradition we have from the holy Ari was actually taught to Rabbi Vital in a period of less than two years! In fact, if not for Rabbi Chaim Vital, none of the Ari’s teachings would be available today. In truth, the Ari HaChai wrote down nothing of his own, it was all written by his pupil.

The Kabblah of the Ari was not much easier for Rabbi Chaim Vital to understand than it was for others, and it is taught that he could not understand a thing of what the Ari would teach him (much like Moses was unable to understand the Torah taught by G‑d, until eventually G-d gave it to him as a gift.) The Ari took his pupil for a boat ride along the Kinneret. At a certain point, the Ari placed a cup into the water, and drew it out, offering it to Rabbi Chaim to drink from. Rabbi Chaim said that from the time that he drank from those waters, he was able to understand everything the Ari taught him! The Ari explained that he had taken Rabbi Vital out to the very place where the Well of Miriam (which went with the Children of Israel out from Egypt) is hidden to this day!

His main work – the Eitz Chaim, describes the levels of creation and how creation came about. Thereafter, Rabbi Chaim Vital wrote 8 main works entitled the Shemonah Shearim – the Eight Gates, in which he describes everything from the basic theoretical structures of the kabbalistic system – to the practicalities of how to implant Kavanot – intentions in prayer and Mitzvot, and various other practical implementations in order to actually bring the theory into the practical. Nevertheless even with a good understanding of the Hebrew language, without having someone to learn from, most of the Ari’s writings are a closed book as well. (For those who cannot find a teacher… do not give up. One never knows if one may merit Elijah the Prophet appearing to one to teach him personally… see below!)

This posting is not to go into depth about the writings, the names of the books and what each one is about – but rather to give a small glimpse into something about this holy man – who although was just 38 years old when he died – was familiar with every part of Torah, filled with Ruach HaKodesh – Divine Inspiration and had the good fortune of being visited by Elijah the Prophet on a regular basis in order to learn even higher levels of Torah not readily available through ordinary books. In fact, the Ari was on such a level, that he could even tell everything that a person had done, including his sins, by simply glancing at the markings on his forehead!

On one occasion, he was approached by a man who had committed numerous sins. The man was wearing a hat, and had pulled it down over his forehead in the hope that the Ari would not be able to see the markings on his forehead. The Ari remarked, “Don’t you think that someone who can see through the markings on a forehead can also see through the material of a hat?!”

Learning about the life of the Ari (and his teachings) is extremely fascinating and encouraging. One learns about a man who lived Torah – who breathed it, who saw the heavenly realms with his spiritual eyes, like we are able to see clearly the physical world with our physical eyes. He did everything he could possibly do to serve G-d day and night. He was a man focused on bringing this world to a state of complete perfection and ultimately to bring Moshiach. Perhaps, in fact, he was Moshiach – as he once told his students that they would merit to see Moshiach… Much time passed after his death, and the students complained to his main disciple, Rabbi Vital asking why they never merited to see Moshiach – just like the Ari had promised them. Rabbi Vital responded, “But you DID see Moshiach!” What could he ever have meant?!

The story is told in the book “Emek HaMelech”. It was once the eve of the holy Shabbat, close to the time when Shabbat would be coming in. The Ari and his pupils were outside in the city of Tzefat wearing garments of white in order to receive the Shabbat day. They began to welcome the Shabbat with the first Psalms recited – before actually bringing in the Shabbat day.

While they were singing, the Rav said to his disciples, “Friends, do you wish to go to Jerusalem before Shabbat and we can make Shabbat in Jerusalem?” Now… Jerusalem is a 4 hour journey by ordinary transport… let alone going by horse, let alone taking a jog there. Shabbat was literally a few minutes away… There was simply not enough time to get there – by any ordinary means anyway!

Some of his students responded in the affirmative, and some said that they wished to go home to inform their wives first.

Since they said that they wished to go home first, the Rav trembled in great fear and hit his hands together stating, “Woe to us, that we did not have the merit to be redeemed. If only you had all answered with one voice that you wished to go in great happiness, immediately all of Israel would have been redeemed! Since now was the moment of Divine favour for this auspicious time to be redeemed, and since you refused in this matter, the exile has returned to its full strength – due to our many sins!”

We can learn much from every story – but this story highlights the importance of understanding the true reality of everything.

1. We are currently in exile… a state which is uncomfortable and abnormal for any Jewish soul to be in.
2. Everything we do in life must be directed to the purpose of bringing Moshiach. All Torah and Mitzvos is nothing more than to perfect this world so that Moshiach should come.
3. Redemption should be our main focus – at all times and at every moment. Whether one minute before Shabbat, on Shabbat itself or any other occasion… the redemption can come even then. (For those who hold that various sources may point against Moshiach arriving on certain days, this is not our concern. Let us hope for Moshiach even then, that he reveal himself. Afterwards we’ll ask Moshiach to explain the Gemaras! In fact Moshiach can come even if we haven’t yet finished learning ShaS!)
4. The leader of the generation knows well what is happening Above. Therefore when he says things that are necessary to follow, he already understands the implications of what he is saying and that now is the time to attend to what he is asking.
5. We can always come up with a dozen excuses as to why something *shouldn’t* be done a certain way. We can check with the Shulchan Aruch – just to make sure though. We can even go and ask our wives first… In fact when the leader of the generation says things that simply don’t make sense to us, we can even prove him wrong through all of our own means. Yet, he too has learned Shulchan Aruch and knows what is written there – and he too has a wife… If he has spoken of the importance of doing something, even something totally strange and foreign, the chances are (so long as he is truly a leader of the Jewish people and not someone out for his own honour,) – that he knows why he is saying what he is, and therefore we need to listen.

The Ari was the Moses of his generation, just as our generation has a Moses too. Our duty is to be aware of who this person is, to listen to his teachings, and to realise that if he is saying that we are in need of doing something, then this something must be done – even when everything in our logical senses tells us the opposite. It is for us to know that the Moses of the generation is already familiar with the Shulchan Aruch – and even the Zohar, the writings of the Ari, the entire oral tradition, Talmud, Midrashim and everything in between. Our duty is to now realise that we are like the students of the Ari – the lion – who is telling us what needs to be done to welcome the Shabbat day. It is for us to go forward now in action, ready to fly to Jerusalem NOW – even if it looks like we have no wings, and the trip will be a bumpy one!

The moment we are ready to hear the words of Moses speaking and telling us what we need to do, immediately we will be redeemed, each of us being taken with a private cloud of glory, flown through the cool peaceful air through the heavens as we are taken to Jerusalem. There, we will see a spiritual/physical building coming down from above… and as it does so, Moshiach will announce our freedom. The world will suddenly be filled with complete goodness and kindness and we will be taken to a realm of beauty that none of us has ever even imagined before.

May we merit – in the merit of the holy Ari, that we humble ourselves to understand what needs to be done, and that we set ourselves up to do what is necessary – and then, even before we do it, the Great Shofar will be heard and we will all be taken out of the constraints that we are in, and merit the final redemption! Amen!

Sha'ar HaShamayim - A Genuine Kabbalistic Yeshiva

GATEWAY TO HEAVEN

Introduction

In the heart of the holy city of Jerusalem, there sits an elderly Torah Sage teaching Kabbalah – the mystical texts and understanding of the Torah – to a large group of Torah scholars. The name of this great Sage, beloved and respected worldwide by all segments of the Torah community, is Rabbi Yechiel Fischel Eizenbach shlitah, the Rosh HaYeshivah (Dean) of the renowned Torah academy Sha’ar HaShamaim. Continue reading...

Rabbi Yechiel Fischel Eizenbach zt"l
(Seated left is Rabbi Daniel Frish - author of Matok Midvash commentary on Zohar)