Rabbi Yaakov Abuhatzira ztl., Author of the “Abir Yaakov”, (died on Tevet 1858) was a rabbi of Tafilalet in Morocco, a Kabbalist, judge, author, preacher and poet, grandfather of Baba Sally, one of the ancestors of the Abuhatzira family and one of the greatest rabbis Morocco. He is considered an exemplary husband and the one who received the revelation of Elijah. One of his sons is Rabbi Yitzchak Abuhatzira, author of the piyyut “Aupa Eshkuna”, and his grandson is Rabbi Yisrael Abuhatzira, the “Baba Sally”, the son of his son Rabbi Massoud.
Rabbi Yaakov ztl was born in the year 1906 in the city of Tafilalet in Morocco to his father Rabbi Massoud Abuhatzira. Already at the age of 16 he was well versed in the Torah orchard and was authorized to serve as a rabbi and leader of the Jewish community in Tafilalet. At the age of 30 he answered questions that came to him from among the rabbis of Morocco, and was considered a great arbiter.
The late Rabbi has authored many books, which are a cornerstone of the Am Yisrael Library, including: “Euro Mishpatich Ya’akov”, “Circles of Justice”, “King’s Archives”, “The White Cleavage” and more.
Wonderful stories exist about his study with tremendous diligence. His son and disciple, Rabbi Yitzchak, in the introduction to his book “The White Cleavage”, testifies that his father never had a small talk, and when he was awake he never lay on the edge of the bed and never snatched sleep, and all his eating and drinking was in moderation, weight and moderation.
His son and disciple, Rabbi Aharon, in the introduction to his book “Dorsh Tov”, testifies that his father would study 18 chapters of Mishnah orally every night, and study the verses and the Gemara again, and not sleep but a temporary year, and wake up and read midnight, To the synagogue for morning prayers, where he would sit and engage in Torah.
Rabbi Shlomo Hayun, his definite disciple, who was often with him, and as he says in the introduction to his book “Open Seal” – “that his hand did not move out of his hand”, describes his way of life in this language: “In the vanities of this world he was weary.
On his way to Israel he passed through Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt. When he arrived in the city of Damanhur in Egypt, he suddenly fell ill and was forced to stay there. A week later his holy soul departed, having recited the Song of Songs, a confession and an intentional recitation of Shema. He was buried in Damanhur, Egypt.
In the Mateh Binyamin Regional Council, the locality is named “Kochav Yaakov”. His grandson, Rabbi David Chai Abuhatzira, established the “Abir Yaakov” institutions in Nahariya in his name. There are also many Torah institutions and synagogues named after him.
Rabbi Herzl delves into fascinating stories about Rabbi Yaakov Abuhatzira:
To purchase the set of Abir Yaakov books, Pocket Edition, Oz and Hadar, click here.