"Like an Angel": Facts and Stories About Rabbi Natan Bokobza zt"l, the Genius of Kindness

Today, the 10th of Nisan, marks the 15th anniversary of the passing of Rabbi Natan Bokobza zt"l. Known as the "Genius of Kindness," the rabbi passed away after a severe and short illness at just 42 years old. A collection of facts highlighting his great character.

1. Rabbi Natan Bokobza zt"l lived in Netivot. After his marriage, he studied in a kollel and later became an educator at the 'Torah Lishmah' Talmud Torah in Ofakim. While doing this, he was constantly involved in public activities. From the year 2000, he dedicated himself solely to this work until his passing on the Shabbat Hagadol, the 10th of Nisan, 2006, 15 years ago.

2. The rabbi zt"l was ordained and had the qualifications to serve as a city rabbi. He was prominent as a sought-after and beloved preacher. His speeches and talks focused on Torah and Halacha, faith and encouragement, attracting large audiences.

3. When Rabbi Bokobza's youngest son was born, he requested that the Rishon LeZion, Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu zt"l, serve as the sandak at the brit. The Rishon LeZion immediately agreed, saying, "Someone who does so much for the people of Israel deserves that I travel to Netivot to serve as the sandak for his son, for he is a genius in acts of kindness." On another occasion, when asked to give a lesson at the rabbi's large 'yeshiva bein hazmanim,' the Rishon LeZion readily agreed and referred to the rabbi as "the man of kindness of the generation," while mentioning his numerous virtues.

4. Indeed, Rabbi Bokobza was a "genius in kindness." He founded 2 organizations aimed at establishing Torah and kindness institutions, Torah classes, mutual aid funds, support for the needy, building mikvahs, and more. As part of his activities, he established frameworks for evening kollelim and throughout the year during the day, distribution of food and clothing, 'Kimcha d'Pischa' distributions, 'yeshiva bein hazmanim,' maintaining a yeshiva for baalei teshuva, a soup kitchen for feeding yeshiva students and the needy, summer camps for children, Simchat Beit HaShoeva celebrations, various gatherings for thousands, two active study halls, mutual aid funds for grooms, for mothers, and more. Over the years, the activities grew to amounts of hundreds of thousands of shekels per month, which he raised for these purposes.

5. Besides the institutions he founded himself, the rabbi rehabilitated, established, and supported various institutions across the country, including distributions of food products before holidays, funding for children's trips, establishment of kindergartens, a special class for children with Down syndrome, establishment of synagogues, funding for mikvahs, support for soup kitchens and rescue organizations.

6. Rabbi Bokobza was also known for his spiritual qualities and blessings, and thousands of Jews saw him as a support, spiritual guide, and mentor, coming to consult with him and receive blessings. Many witnesses who knew Bokobza attest to a captivating personality, with amazing analytical skills, wisdom, and understanding in various fields. When asked about the source of his blessing powers, he replied, "My words are accepted because of the kindness."

Rabbi Ravid Nagar narrates how he disposed of his television from home, thanks to Rabbi Bokobza zt"l. Watch:

7. The Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi David Lau, shared an amazing personal story on the 11th anniversary: "I knew Rabbi Natan Bokobza zt"l from our radio broadcasts. I came to visit him on the 28th of Adar 5766. As soon as I entered the door - I was the rabbi of Modi'in city. I hadn't even considered the position I hold today - Rabbi Natan sees my face and says, 'Oh, here is the next Chief Rabbi.' I looked at him and said, 'Rabbi Natan, maybe, but there is still a lot of time,' and he tells me, 'No, no. You are the next Chief Rabbi'...

I looked at him while he smiled at me. I blessed him that today, on the 28th of Adar, may Hashem give you the strength of Adar, of joy and salvation, and Rabbi Natan said to me – 28 is twice 14, hand in hand, hand-hand, we are in hand to hand, that is the true strength of a Jew!

We played some tunes and bid farewell with great friendship, never imagining that, 11 days later, we would accompany him to eternal rest. It's a privilege for me to be here 11 years after his passing and see that all his initiatives continue, in kollelim and food distribution and kindness, with the help of good people, and there is special divine assistance because Rabbi zt"l can act in heaven more than during his lifetime."

8. Michal Rosenbaum from Petah Tikva describes the rabbi's kindness. "My first husband zt"l was very ill, and the rabbi supported and encouraged us greatly. When my husband underwent difficult medical treatment in Germany, the rabbi came to us there, encouraging and strengthening us immensely." Rosenbaum continues, sharing about the rabbi's humility: "In general, there were several times when the rabbi appeared at our door like an angel when we needed him. Once, for example, when my husband zt"l was ill, he was mostly at home and not in the hospital, and naturally, his mental state wasn't very good. I had to go and do tests and such, but I couldn't leave him alone without someone to be with him. Suddenly, a knock on the door, and the rabbi appeared. I told him I needed to go out, and the rabbi, with incredible humility, said: 'I came to be with your husband. I will stay with him until you return!' He stayed with him for about an hour and a half, cheering him up just as he always cheered everyone around him." Rosenbaum concludes with admiration: "Those who knew the rabbi knew that an hour and a half was a significant amount of time for him, yet he did it simply and joyfully. In general, the rabbi achieved a lot in a short time. Once I asked him, 'How does the rabbi live like this?!' He replied, 'I live only to help the people of Israel'"...

8. The last 'Kimcha d'Pischa' distribution conducted during the rabbi's life was in 2005 (in 2006 the rabbi passed away and during the distribution days he was in the hospital). A family came to the rabbi whose relative was in the hospital, and the doctors said that his chances of recovery were gone and that his days were numbered. The rabbi, upon hearing the case from the family members, performed a redemption of the soul for the sick relative and announced that he would dedicate the entire distribution operation for the recovery of that person. Before him were thousands of packages set up in the courtyard of an auditorium in his city of Netivot.

Then the rabbi instructed a family member to go to the hospital, wake the relative, and announce that the sick would awaken and rise at a specific hour. The family explained that no one was talking about the possibility of the relative getting up and waking up as the doctors had already given up on his recovery, but the rabbi instructed them to go to the hospital and do as he said.

And it was a wonder: as the rabbi said, the patient awoke, and that year's Passover he was already released home. To this day, that Jew attends the rabbi zt"l's memorial events and shares this miraculous story.

9. In Nisan 2005, cancer was discovered in the rabbi's body. He underwent various medical treatments at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem and was later flown to Germany for treatment. When the treatments in Germany failed, the rabbi was returned to Hadassah Hospital, where he passed away during the afternoon of Shabbat Hagadol, the 10th of Nisan, 2006. His family notes that he passed during the 'yeshiva bein hazmanim' and 'Kimcha d'Pischa' distribution activities for the masses, which were two of his flagship projects, and he was among the first pioneers to initiate the idea.

Rabbi Shmuel Zafrani describes: "Rabbi Eliyahu zt"l said about Rabbi Natan Bokobza zt"l that he is a genius in acts of kindness, and also told me: 'Whatever Rabbi Bokobza asks of you, make every effort to fulfill it.'"

When Rabbi Natan was lying in Hadassah Hospital shortly before his passing, Rabbi Eliyahu requested that we visit him. When we entered his room, he was very moved and, with great effort, sat on the bed. He burst into tears and said to the rabbi, 'What will happen to all the families who look up to me, especially now as Passover approaches, and there are many families waiting for the 'Kimcha d'Pischa'? ...

The rabbi sat in his room, encouraged him and read Tehillim chapters with him for his recovery. When we left the room, the rabbi said to me: 'See, how deeply the attribute of loving-kindness is ingrained in him, to the point where all that troubles him in this difficult state is what will become of those needy families'"...

10. After the rabbi's passing, the institutions he established were named 'Or Natan' in his honor, and they continue to operate in Netivot under his wife's management. If you have additional stories about Rabbi zt"l, please send them to midey.shabat@gmail.com