Discover the Legacy of the 'Or HaChaim' on His 281st Yahrtzeit

This coming Saturday night, marking the beginning of the 15th of Tammuz, will be the 281st yahrtzeit of Rabbi Chaim ben Attar, renowned for his 'Or HaChaim' commentary on the Torah. Join us as we explore the facets of his esteemed life:

1. Rabbi Chaim ben Attar, referred to as 'Or HaChaim' after his Torah commentary, was born in Morocco and later moved to Jerusalem. He passed away at the age of 47, less than a year after arriving in Jerusalem, and was laid to rest on the Mount of Olives.

2. The 'Or HaChaim' is often called 'holy'. Other figures such as Rabbi Eliyahu HaKohen Itamari and the Shelah are also known by this title. The Ba'al Shem Tov mentioned that the 'Or HaChaim' is a spark of the soul of the Messiah.

3. Many stories exist about miracles experienced by Jews who prayed at his gravesite and committed to studying his writings. One famous tale involves Rabbi Hillel Schlesinger, who had long been childless. A leading doctor told him, "When hair grows on your palm, you'll have children," implying it was impossible. In his despair, Rabbi Hillel immediately went to pray at the grave of the 'Or HaChaim' on the slopes of the Mount of Olives and vowed to study from the book weekly. Miraculously, a year later, he held his firstborn daughter. Rabbi Hillel went on to establish a family, with one son-in-law being the esteemed Rabbi Moshe Halberstam, a member of the Badatz of the Edah HaChareidis.

4. During World War II, when the Germans were at Israel's doorstep in Syria and Egypt, religious courts in Jerusalem called for prayers at the 'Or HaChaim's' grave on his yahrtzeit. Masses of Jewish people gathered to pray earnestly at the site, led by the Rebbes of Hustein and Zvil. After the prayers, joy spread among them, and when asked for the reason, the Rabbi of Hustein replied, "The danger has passed, a sword won't cross our land." They were astonished and asked how he knew, and he said he saw the Divine Name radiant above the grave. This sentiment was echoed by the Zvil Rebbe to his followers. Days later, heavy losses befell the Germans on both the Syrian and Egyptian fronts as a new front opened against them with the Russians, and they quickly retreated, sparing the Jews of Israel miraculously.

5. A well-known tradition holds that a person who regularly studies the 'Or HaChaim' commentary will merit righteous sons dedicated to Torah and mitzvot. The 'Lev Simcha' of Gur explained that since 'Or HaChaim' had no children, his creative energies reside in his sacred text, thus each part of the book fosters a holy heritage.

The tomb of Rabbi Chaim ben Attar

Join us for a weekly study of the "Or HaChaim" commentary on the Torah portion

6. Studying the 'Or HaChaim' is said to bring numerous blessings. It is believed to lead to faith (from Rabbi Yochanan of Karlin), healing (as mentioned in 'Imrei Pinchas'), wealth and longevity (noted in 'Segulat Moshe'), deliverance in times of trouble (from Rabbi Chaim Palagi citing the Chida), awe of Heaven (mentioned in 'Or Ha'Bahir'), and soul purification (from the Rebbe of Ruzhin). According to 'Kaimu V'Kiblu', it's taught that those who study his commentary on the Torah portions 'Acharei Mot' and 'Kedoshim' are assured not to leave this world without repentance.

7. The family of the 'Baba Sali' shares that he would sit every Friday at his door until finishing the entire 'Or HaChaim' commentary for the weekly Torah portion.

8. The 'Or HaChaim' passed away on Shabbat night of the 15th of Tammuz at the start of the evening, while in Mezhibuzh, Ukraine, the Baal Shem Tov was washing his hands for the third meal (as it was before sunset there) and commented "the western candle has been extinguished". When asked after Shabbat what he meant, he replied that Rabbi Chaim ben Attar had passed away. They inquired how he knew, and he explained that there is only one intention in the hand-washing known only to 'the singular of the generation', and only Rabbi Chaim ben Attar understood this intention. When the intention was revealed to him during the washing for the third meal, he knew that Rabbi Chaim had passed.

The grave of the "Or HaChaim" has been venerated through generations, with thousands journeying to the Mount of Olives to pay their respects on the 15th of Tammuz and other times throughout the year.

Rabbi Yitzchak Bazri portrays the personality of the 'Or HaChaim':