The Man from Meron: The Amazing Story of Hacham Yechezkel HaCohen

Lag BaOmer is the hilula day of our master Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, who illuminated the world with the secrets of his Torah, and whose immense merit stands for us for generations. His name is reverently mentioned among the Jewish diaspora, especially by Sephardic Jews, who study the holy Zohar daily throughout the year. Many children born in Sephardic communities are named "Shimon," after the divine Tanna, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.

It is not by chance that the location of his resting place on Mount Meron became a place of prayer, and many Jews visit his holy site throughout the year, and especially on the hilula day during Lag BaOmer, to arouse great mercy and be remembered with salvation and mercy. It is said that Rabbi Shimon's grave is considered the second most important site visited by Jews (after the "Western Wall"), attracting hundreds of thousands, especially on the hilula day of Lag BaOmer. Hundreds of thousands, numbering more than half a million, pour out their prayers at this holy site, and even dance and rejoice in honor of the holy Tanna Rabbi Shimon.
Rabbi Shimon’s resting place has been sanctified with extraordinary holiness, and here is significant testimony from the pilgrimage of our rabbi Chaim ben Attar, the "Or HaChaim," who prostrated at the grave of Rabbi Shimon. His student testified that upon reaching the foot of the mountain, his excitement grew, and he dismounted the donkey and climbed the mountain on his hands and feet, crying from the depths of his heart: "Where am I, the lowly one, entering? To a place of fire, a flaming blaze of holiness, with all the heavenly entourage, and all the souls of the righteous." These words illustrate the sanctity of the place and its unique qualities.

In this article, we reveal for the first time the story of the man from Meron, Rabbi Yechezkel HaCohen, who lived 150 years ago, born in the Yezd community in Persia. He immigrated to the land of Israel and settled in Safed, making the gravesite of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai his year-round place of study, and was a practical man who cared for and renovated Rabbi Shimon's grave. It is said that the floor of Rabbi Shimon's cave, which Rabbi Yechezkel repaired and established, remains intact to this day.

 

The Holy Man Hacham Yechezkel

Many Jews who visited the tomb of the holy Tanna Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai in Meron, 150 years ago and more, encountered there a venerable and elderly figure, a holy and awe-inspiring man who was never without Torah and prayer from his youth. He designated Rabbi Shimon's grave as his place of learning throughout the year and only returned home to Safed on the eve of Passover, and this was Rabbi Yechezkel HaCohen.

Hacham Yechezkel HaCohen was born in the city of Yazd in Persia about 180 years ago. He was an exceptional figure. After some years, he ascended to the land of Israel and settled in Safed. Both the older inhabitants of Safed and those who heard about his righteousness and holiness from their ancestors lived with his influence. From there, he went to dwell at the grave of Rabbi Shimon in Meron.

A particularly interesting testimony is shared by Rabbi Yosef Shraga about the remarkable encounter in Meron between the Kabbalist Hacham Avraham Chaim Ades and Hacham Yechezkel HaCohen. In his words: "Rabbi Avraham Chaim Ades, who lived between 1857 and 1925, was known for having a holy spirit and was famous in Jerusalem as one of the leading Kabbalists in the city. Like others, he was greatly impressed by his meeting with Rabbi Yechezkel HaCohen, and thus he recounted to Rabbi Meir Raphael: 'Once when I was about eighteen, I went to Safed and the cave of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai in Meron, accompanied by several friends. We stayed until after midnight at the conclusion of the hilula and had no place to stay. I told my friends: What should we do? There is no vacant place to study or sleep a little. My friends said: Let's enter the second room where an old man resides, a divine Kabbalist, who always sits in the room and engages in Torah study all year round, only going to Safed for Pesach to his family for the Four Cups.'

'We entered the room and saw the old man studying Kabbalah. He asked us several questions, which we answered, and it pleased the old man. He told me: Sit, my son, sit, and I will teach you Kabbalah. I replied: Forgive me, I am unmarried, and I have some students I cannot leave.'

Ever since that day, I regret not heeding the words of the old man, knowing well that had I listened to him that day, I would now be a great rabbi.'

When Rabbi Meir Raphael asked Rabbi Avraham Chaim Ades, and what was the name of that old man?

He replied: I do not remember, but his son Hacham Tzion was in Jerusalem last year. Rabbi Meir Raphael replied: The name of the old man is Rabbi Yechezkel HaCohen. Hacham Avraham Ades said: Blessed be you! How do you know? Then Rabbi Meir Raphael recounted that the old man from Safed was his relative and had come to Safed in his youth."

 

Rashbi Opened His Eyes

Hacham Yechezkel HaCohen was an extraordinary figure, known as the man from Meron. The stories told about him today sound like legends, but his character captivated the renowned author S.Y. Agnon, who dedicated a significant portion to him in his book "These and Those." It seems from his writings that the material about this wonder-man was heard mainly from the "elders of Safed." Although he writes at the end of his tales "The Stones of the Place": "Many more stories I heard tell about Hacham Yechezkel HaCohen, what I heard from truthful tellers I wrote," Agnon meant that the unverified stories were not recorded. Agnon recounted: "Hacham Yechezkel HaCohen was a holy and awe-inspiring man. From the day he reached awareness, he did not walk four cubits without Torah and prayer, nor did he lift his eyes except for the sake of heaven until his eyes lit..." Thereupon he continued to describe how he established his residence in the study hall upon Rabbi Shimon’s grave and how he sustained himself from a field he bought, plowed, sowed, harvested its wheat, and baked his bread.

"Never was he seen sleeping with any regularity. When his head became heavy with fatigue, he rested it on his book, dozed briefly, and returned to his studies. In time, the light of his eyes was taken."

Hacham Yechezkel went to Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and recited Psalms with great weeping. Upon finishing, he turned and said: Our master Rabbi Shimon, I thought my presence was pleasing to you. Now that my presence does not please you, return the light of my eyes, and I will return home." A form of a hand appeared, dipped in the eternal flame, touched his eyes, and restored his sight.

Another story told by Agnon involves a tourist who came to Meron. "There he saw an elderly man, his beard shining like refined silver, appearing like an angel of God, wisdom and humility radiating from his face. And what is such a Jewish man doing at Rabbi Shimon’s grave? Engaging in Torah and prayer with sweet and pleasant voices."

The tourist's curiosity was aroused, and he wished to know this wonderful Jew. After hearing about his deeds and conduct, he began conversing with him. Seeing that he was a wise man with good spirit, he said: I am amazed at you, Hacham Yechezkel, spending your days and diminishing your soul of good, wasting your world with your hands. Indeed, this world is certainly a world, and the next world which you labor for no eye has seen, and it may not exist at all.

Hacham Yechezkel replied: 'Perhaps this world too is a world, yet what good is in it, eating, drinking, and sleeping and all such things. If I enjoy, my pleasure is not complete; if I forego, I lack nothing.' Such were Rabbi Yechezkel's words in praise of the World to Come, until he saw the tourist crying. He asked: Why do you cry? He replied: About the world I did not prepare myself for, I cry. He replied: Indeed, for that one must cry. And both wept."

 

Eternal Peace

It is told by Reb Zundel of Meron that one day, Hacham Yechezkel came to Safed. This action puzzled the people of Safed, as he usually came only for Passover and Sukkot. He entered his home, immersed in the mikvah in his courtyard, donned white garments, and called for the overseers of the Ashkenazi cemetery. When the three overseers arrived, he told them his wish to be buried with the Ashkenazim, requesting a grave next to a specific person. They promised him.

He took the book "Maavar Yabok" by the Kabbalist Chassid Rabbi Aharon Berachia of Modena, and lay on his bed, inviting the sages of the Sephardim and Ashkenazim. Everyone came, curious to know what occurred to Hacham Yechezkel. Among those sages was the narrator, Zundel, then a youth who saw everyone rushing to Hacham Yechezkel and joined them.

Hacham Yechezkel lay on his bed without weakness or illness, his face glowing like a bonfire on Lag BaOmer. His lips murmured Psalms of mercy and songs of praises with great joy. Seeing the sages of Safed approaching, Hacham Yechezkel rose in his bed and asked their forgiveness for disturbing them, as today was his day of departure, and he wished to instruct them on his post-death arrangements. He asked them to write every detail, who would tend to him, and how, ensuring all who would tend to him must immerse in the mikvah beforehand.

The people told him: What are you talking about? Aren’t you healthy and strong?

He replied: Last night in the study hall of Rabbi Shimon, I heard the slithering of a snake. I drove it away, and it returned. Rabbi Shimon rose and said: Why do you disturb the house?

I told him: A snake came here, and I am chasing it away.

He told me: Is it an ordinary snake? It is the primordial serpent that brought death to the world, and your efforts are in vain... for your time has come, and no dominion exists on the day of death.

Hacham Yechezkel placed his hand over his eyes, reciting Shema Yisrael, prolonging "Echad" until his soul departed.

 

Rabbi Yechezkel's Letter

We present here a rare letter from Rabbi Yechezkel sent to Rabbi Moshe Shlomo Almashali, who seemingly resided outside the Land of Israel. Rabbi Yechezkel was pained by the neglect at the site and initiated renovations and repairs at the grave of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai in Meron. Presumably, before writing this letter, he detailed his plans to Senor Moshe Siroshi in writing and length, hence brevity in this letter.

His main concern was paving the courtyard of Rabbi Shimon’s grave and also allocating a place for animals. It can be assumed that people arrived in Meron on donkeys or horses, and Rabbi Yechezkel sought to designate a specific area for animals so they would not enter the grave courtyard.

He requests that the donation money be transferred by the noble Raphael Levi and the "rabbi" Moshe Yedid Halevi, residing in Beirut, Lebanon, to be sent to him.

Here is the content of the letter:

"With the help of Hashem [In the name of G-d, we will act and succeed] On the seventh of Tevet, may it be blessed.

To the esteemed, my good brother, etc., the donor of charity and kindness, Senor Moshe Shlomo, may his lamp shine until the priest arrives with the Urim (means of revelation).

From the enthroned, and before [from within, implying devotion and closeness] I pray before the glory of the holy [honored, holy] our great master. And the crown of our Rabbi [Shimon bar Yochai] will satisfy him, etc.

Glad tidings, etc. My brother, I have come to write a few lines to mingle in the blood of love, the love of the ancients. You certainly remember the event from two years ago when his light dawned [apparently, the recipient visited the site two years earlier during Sukkot] here at this holy place during the festival of Sukkot, and I spoke in the ear of the eminent about arranging this holy place and his exalted answer [a literary device based on the Book of Samuel, meaning his important answer], he answered me, and I said, etc. And now there is a craftsman and workers doing stone flooring for the courtyard ground, and we are also making a place for animals so they may not enter the temple's courtyard [meaning the grave courtyard] with Hashem’s help, everything will be good, and everything will be seen to the master in the letter that I wrote in detail to the esteemed noble and trustworthy treasurer, etc., and study the letter and find out what we wish to accomplish and build with Hashem’s help because now there isn’t enough time to explain in extensive detail, apologies, etc., and speak to the hearts of the generous people regarding this, and with Hashem’s help, through you, we shall succeed, and all that is collected from donations little by little [a phrase of the Mishna meaning "drop by drop it adds up"]. If they wish, they should send it by the master, the noble crown upon our head and the noble man Rafael Levi, etc., or if they wish through the rabbi dealing with holiness completely burnt to offerings [a metaphor, meaning who deals with matters of mitzvah and holiness] like R. Moshe Yedid Halevi, etc. [He too like the former mentioned, lived in Beirut.] and convey in their pure letters little by little, that we will take and receive it and use it for the holy site and bless their holy names etc." the words of the young and insignificant, Yechezkel Shlomo Cohen S."T.

It is said that the floor corrected by Rabbi Yechezkel remains till this day.

This letter was published by Rabbi Y.M. Toledano in "Otzar Genazim" and is included in the book "The Glory of the Yezdi Community," presenting Hacham Yechezkel not only as a Kabbalist and holy man but also as a man of action when necessary.

May there be great peace upon his resting place, how beautiful and good it is, he will intercede for us, our master bar Yochai.