The Unlikely Story Behind the Builder of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai's Tomb

Nearly all of us have visited the tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai (Rashbi) and found solace under the sturdy ancient stone structure that sometimes accommodates thousands. But have we ever wondered who built this remarkable building? Though the Midrash mentions Rashbi’s cave, it never refers to a building. The builder didn't become a historical figure, but his life's story was well-known at the time.

There is an American TV show known as "Reality Hunters" where dealers, collectors, and those with extra cash gather around forgotten shipping containers at a port. Nobody knows what treasures they hold until after they are auctioned off. One might find an empty container, a load of useless goods, or ancient curiosities.

In a similar situation, about two hundred and thirty years ago, in the year 1797, young Yitzhak Guita found himself. Born in Tripoli to the famous Guita family (descendants of Spanish exiles), Yitzhak wasn’t content in Tripoli. After completing his studies under Rabbi Moshe Lakhemiyash, a scholar from Tripoli, he moved to Livorno, Italy. There, he took up work as a servant for a wealthy Jewish man named Luzzatto. By day, he transported goods for his employer; by night, he immersed himself in Torah study. Content with little, Yitzhak managed to save a tidy sum from his job. One day, a messenger arrived from the Land of Israel to collect donations. Yitzhak decided on a generous act of charity, giving away his savings. The grateful emissary blessed him to become wealthy and support countless Torah scholars.

Shortly after, Yitzhak went to the market on his master’s orders. After delivering sacks of goods, he leaned against a large barrel behind him. To his shock, he heard an announcement, "Third time, sold to the servant of Mr. Luzzatto, for ten gold coins!" It seems he had stumbled into an auction of abandoned barrels from the port, similar to those in America. Yitzhak panicked. He didn’t have that kind of money, nor would he have it soon. But rules were rules. The barrel was taken to his master’s basement, with the amount deducted from Yitzhak’s salary over many months. When opened, wisps of flax flew everywhere, indicating it was filled with flax. Keeping the barrel in case he could sell the flax, he continued his duties. One night he pondered: if the barrel was full of flax, why did the porters struggle? Maybe something else was inside? He flipped the barrel and discovered it was half-filled with a treasure of silver and gold coins.

Yitzhak Guita became incredibly wealthy, yet he never forgot his roots. He married a respectable woman and lived in Trieste, where he established a Jewish study academy, supported Torah scholars and the poor, and became widely recognized. He authored books on the Talmud called "Sadeh Yitzhak." In one, he recounts how he learned about a strange bird in the Talmudic tractate of Chullin, and didn’t understand the description until one appeared at his window, making everything clear.

At 78, he didn’t rest on his laurels. He emigrated to the Land of Israel with his family, settled in Safed, and renovated Rabbi Yosef Karo’s synagogue, extensively damaged by an earthquake fifteen years earlier. He built the "Pachad Yitzhak" study hall in Tiberias and even upgraded the tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai in Meron from a small tent to a magnificent vast structure enduring through difficult times and several earthquakes, standing strong to this day.