Baba Sali

Born in the city of Risani in the district of Tafilalt in Morocco, under Rabbi Masoud Abuhatsir in a famous family of rabbis and Kabbalists. From early childhood, he showed outstanding abilities in learning and working on himself. From the age of 13, he began to abstain from food during the whole week during the day and ate only in the evening and on Shabbat, and also took the vow not to eat meat. According to family tradition, spiritual holiness is also achieved by restricting the view of outsiders, that p. Israel also took over from childhood. At the age of 16, he married Frehe Amsalem, who became his faithful assistant in his studies and social activities. At age 30, he was elected rabbi of the entire Tfilalat district and his fame began to spread throughout Morocco. In 1950, he again came to Eretz Yisrael and lived in Jerusalem for almost three years. He then returned to Morocco to strengthen the spirit of local Jewry. From time to time he visited France, where he helped and provided spiritual support to the local Moroccan Jewish communities. In 1963, he moved to live in Israel completely. Rabbi Yisrael lived for several years in Yavne , then in Ashkelon , and in 1970 he moved to Netivot . In Netivot, Baba Sali received wide publicity as a great Kabbalist and wonderworker, many Israelis, including respected rabbis and politicians, came to see him at the reception.

There are hundreds of stories about his miracles. They tell how he warned people in a dream not to take the usual bus flight, and the next day the bus exploded. Others tell how Baba Sali cured a war invalid with paralyzed legs after he promised to keep the Sabbath and put on tefillin . About Baba Sali, they also say that, while living in France, he began to pray the morning prayer while sitting in the car on the central road of Paris, in the morning rush hours, when he reached the prayer of Chaumont Esret, said standing, he got out of the car in the middle of the busy road and all the cars suddenly have stopped. This went on until he finished his prayer. After the death of his second wife, he married a third time to a 15-year-old girl. According to eyewitnesses, before that the rabbi came to her in a dream and demanded her hand.

In 1984, the rabbi passed away. From his first marriage he had a son Meir (Baba Meir), whose sons Elazar and r. David continues the tradition of his grandfather. From the second marriage, the son of Baruch (Baba Baruch) was born, who created the educational network named after his father in Netivot and is very popular there.

Among Jews, immigrants from Morocco, and not only from Morocco living in Israel, veneration of the tombs of the great lawmakers - Kabbalists - is widespread. People from Morocco continue to honor representatives of some ancient families, which enjoyed great prestige in Morocco, and this is especially true of the Abu Hazira family. Yaakov Abu Hatsira ( 1807 - 1880 ), a representative of the Kabbalist family known since the 16th century , was the founder of a peculiar religious movement of Moroccan Jews. He died in Egypt on his way to Palestine , where he made a pilgrimage , and his grave became a place of worship. His grandson was Baba Sali. Baba Sali was not only considered a miracle worker during his lifetime, but even his grave immediately became a pilgrimage site for tens of thousands of people. They bring water bottles here, pray, make donations, communicate with each other, remember their grandparents who lived in Morocco, and believe that the spirit of the great rabbi blessed the water in the bottle. And that this water will become healing and heal them from illnesses, will help to successfully marry a daughter or get a job for her son. In addition, a visit to the grave of Baba Sali for many immigrants from Morocco is a symbol of reverence for the richest, but outdated culture of Moroccan Jews.

• Abu Hatsira, family - article from the Electronic Jewish Encyclopedia
• Tsar, prince, shoemaker, tailor
• Baba Sali - Jew of Baal Shem Tov
• Moroccan Jews - their past and present