לזכות ידיד נפשי האהוב רבי אפרים אבא בן מרים שושנה אוהב צדיקים באמת וכל בני ביתו
The 20th of Teves is the yahrtzeit of the Holy Abir Yaakov.
Rabbi Yaakov Abuhatzeira, the 19th century kabbalist, was a direct descendant of a great tzaddik, Rabbi Shmuel Elbaz--a pupil in the 17th century of Rabbi Chaim Vital, the main student of the holy Ari of Tsfat--who was given a new surname, Abuhatzeira ("father of the mat"), because of the famous story told about him when, denied passage on a ship, he tossed his mat into the sea and rode on it to the country where he needed to fulfill his mitzvah mission.
A few generations later, his descendant Rabbi Massud Abuhatzeira, the chief Rabbi of Tafilalet, Morocco, would have an amazing story to tell:
A couple came to the Rabbi seeking a divorce, which he granted. The man left, but the woman had wanted to stay a little longer in order to talk to the Rabbi's wife. Night fell, and fearing for her guest's life, the Rabbanit suggested she stay with them for the night.
That evening, Rabbi Massud had a dream. In it he was told that the woman staying over was destined to give birth to a very great soul. However, it had to emanate from a special holy union…between the Rabbi and her! He was instructed to marry her three months later.
Rabbi Massud had no idea how he to tell his wife about this mysterious dream [I wouldn't either:-)]. Upon returning from shul that morning, the Rabbanit approached her husband and, before he had time to relate his own dream, she told him of the dream she herself had - it was the exact same dream! Further, the Rabbanit (clearly a holy woman herself) said that she whole-heartedly accepted this heavenly decree. Not only that, she had already spoken to the woman about the importance of becoming a second wife to her husband! [WOW!!!]
The woman accepted and three months later (the minimum time for a new widow or divorcee to wait before remarriage), the two married. About a year later, a son was born to the couple - Rabbi Yaakov Abuhatzeira -- who would become the renowned Abir Yaakov. [So you see - divorce can be good sometimes:-)].
Rabbi Yaakov's piety was outstanding and his Torah learning was on an extraordinary high level. He wrote twelve masterpiece sfarim, considered a must for anyone pursing the study of the mystical kabbalistic tradition - and also for those wishing to understand Torah and halacha properly.
Rabbi Yaakov's days were filled with the study and teaching of Torah from day to night. He slept very little, as he would awaken shortly before midnight to begin the prayers of Tikkun Chatzos - mourning for the Temple - followed by intense Torah study until dawn. After the Sunrise Minyan he would continue to study. He ate very little throughout the day, spending much of his time in the distribution of charity to those in need. All of this combined resulted in him becoming an outstanding tzaddik and true kabbalist.
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Rabbi Yaakov performed many wonders and miracles for the Jews of Morocco. Childless couples were blessed with children, many sick were healed and many who were depressed left his presence filled with new life and happiness. For example:
In the city of Paranda once lived a depressed, bitter and disheartened woman who had a son of 16 years of age. He had been stricken with polio and was paralyzed in both legs, leaving him in a wheelchair for life. So depressed was the woman that she prayed that the child - her own child! -- should die.
One day, Rabbi Yaakov was visiting Paranda. When the ruler witnessed the commotion taking place with the Jews singing and dancing at the happy occasion of seeing the Rabbi, he wondered about it all. He ran to find out what the commotion was all about, and upon being told about the great Rabbi that had been accorded such honor he became intensely jealous. He decided to levy a heavy tax upon all the Jews for their "rebellious" behavior.
Later, after a short rest, Rabbi Yaakov began to accept the public for blessings and offer advice. Among the people who came was this bitter woman. She entered and told Rabbi Yaakov's host that she wished for the Rabbi to pray that her son should die! He asked her to explain herself, and then he related the entire sad story to Rabbi Yaakov.
Rabbi Yaakov listened to the request and told the host that he would not pray for the son to die, but rather to be completely healed. He explained to the host that he should tell the woman to bathe her son, dress him in clean garments and bring him to see him.
The next day, the woman arrived with her son - having prepared him as the Rabbi had requested. The Rabbi instructed that the son be brought on his wheelchair to a place in the room directly underneath a skylight where the sun would shine upon him. Rabbi Yaakov asked the boy his name, and then instructed him to get out of his wheelchair and come over to him. The boy somehow managed to rise and take the steps necessary to stand before the Rabbi, whereupon Rabbi Yaakov instructed him to walk back to his wheelchair. Then he told him to again get up and walk to him. After having him walk back and forth three times, he told the boy that he no longer needed the wheelchair and that he should return home with his mother. He blessed him with health and longevity.
The community was abuzz with excitement at the good news, for word of the revealed miracle that had taken place spread quickly. The mother brought the story to the attention of the ruler of the city. She sold jewelry to the people of the town and thus had been in touch with the ruler before. This time, however, she would be adding a new person to her staff and would have to introduce the teenage boy to the ruler. She would also have to explain why she had never presented the boy before.
The ruler, who knew how sad this woman had always been and now saw her glowing face, realized the great miracle that had taken place through the distinguished guest Rabbi. He regretted his previous decision to tax the Jews, and after nullifying his decree, welcomed the rabbi into his home. He invited many guests to his home that day and told them the story of the miracle rabbi who had healed a young boy who the best doctors were unable to help. Now, with just a few words, the rabbi had cured the boy completely!
Rabbi Yaakov rose at the meal and in humility told the guests how it was not he who had healed, but rather G-d, the Creator of the world, who had done the wonder. He explained that it was only because he himself fulfilled the words of G-d to the Jewish people that the Creator had allowed him to be the vessel through which the miracle would occur. G-d answers the prayers of those who study His Torah and fulfill His commandments, he explained.
May the merit of the Abir Yaakov protect us all and bring blessing to each of us where we need it most in our lives.
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Source: Adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from //dwellingplacebelow.blogspot.co.il, the informative website of Reb Eliyahu Shear.
