Rabbi Chaim Chouri: The Saintly Sage of Gabès and Be'er Sheva

A Giant of Tunisian Jewry

Rabbi Chaim Chouri (1884–1957) passed away 64 years ago on the 25th of Iyar. He was one of the greatest rabbis of his generation in Tunisia and served as head of the rabbinical court in the city of Gabès. Known for his piety, righteousness, and acts of kindness, Rabbi Chouri was also widely recognized as a ba'al mofet—a miracle worker whose blessings bore fruit both in life and after his passing.

Since his death, tens of thousands have visited his grave in Be’er Sheva, which has become a destination for prayer. Great Torah leaders, including the Baba Sali, often visited his gravesite and encouraged others to do the same.

One such story involves Moshe Elmakayes, who came to the Baba Sali distraught over his four-year-old son, who could neither speak nor walk. Upon learning the man was from Be’er Sheva, the Baba Sali exclaimed: “You have the holy grave of Rabbi Chaim Chouri, and you come to me?! Go there and you will see salvation.” Elmakayes went straight to the graveת and within a week, returned to make a thanksgiving feast, as his son had miraculously begun to walk and speak.

Rabbi Ovadia Yosef once said about Rabbi Chouri’s gravesite:
“Rabbi Chaim Chouri, a great man among giants, a righteous foundation of the world. It is said that whoever prays at his grave receives salvation. A couple barren for 15 years wept at his grave and were answered.” (From a 2005 lecture recorded in the book Yechaveh Da'at)

Early Genius and Lifelong Devotion

From childhood, Rabbi Chouri demonstrated remarkable devotion to Torah study. He once recalled reviewing his teacher’s lecture 40 times each day. By age 18, he had received rabbinic ordination and began teaching students.

His first wife passed away young, leaving him with two small daughters. Eventually, he remarried and rebuilt his home, writing in his journal, “The latter house shall be greater than the first.” From this marriage, he fathered sons and daughters, including the late Rabbi Yinon Chouri, a holy scholar and miracle worker.

His son-in-law, the late Rabbi Peretz Maimon, a Tunisian Torah giant in his own right, was deeply influenced by his father-in-law. Rabbi Chouri had personally drawn him away from a secular French school and brought him into the world of Torah.

A Heart of Kindness and a Voice of Fire

Rabbi Chouri’s home was a haven for the poor and the hungry. Every guest who entered the city knew there was a hot meal and a warm bed in the rabbi’s home, free of charge. On one particularly cold night, Rabbi Chouri was heard weeping. When asked why, he said: “I lie here warm beneath a blanket, while the poor of the city have nothing. This pain does not let me sleep.” The next morning, he gathered the wealthy citizens and raised funds for blankets to distribute to the needy.

He was also a gifted speaker. His friend, Rabbi Moshe Kalfon HaKohen, once said, “If we had a few more preachers like Rabbi Chouri, Mashiach would have come already.” His sermons had the power to move hearts and return people to their Father in Heaven.

His prayers were known to be effective, and many miracles were attributed to his name. One story tells of a woman whose three-year-old son fell into a narrow, deep pit and had been trapped there for hours. Rabbi Chouri stood at the mouth of the pit and instructed the mother to go pray at the nearby grave of Rabbi Yosef Ma’aravi, a student of the Ari. Meanwhile, Rabbi Chouri and his students prayed. Miraculously, water rose inside the pit, and the boy was seen floating safely to the surface, alive and unharmed.

Even the Arab residents of Gabès revered him. Whenever he walked through a neighborhood, people, both Jews and Arabs, would rise in respect until he passed.

His Disciples and Torah Legacy

Among Rabbi Chouri’s great students were:

• The late Rabbi Yosef Suso HaKohen, former Chief Rabbi of Tunisia and later a dayan (rabbinical judge) in Jerusalem’s Sephardic Eda Charedit

• The late Rabbi Shimon Hirari, who witnessed many of Rabbi Chouri’s miracles

• Rabbi Raphael Kadir Tzaban, later Chief Rabbi of Netivot and a member of Israel’s Chief Rabbinate Council

Rabbi Chouri personally provided stipends to promising students who were at risk of leaving Torah study due to financial need, ensuring that they remained in the Beit Midrash.

He authored three works:

• Derech Chaim – insights on the Torah and Talmud

• Chesed Ve’Emet – sermons and commentaries in memory of Torah sages

• Niflaot Gedolot – a collection of wondrous stories and teachings

He also translated several books, including Tziporen Shamir by the Chida.

A Final Resting Place of Blessings

Rabbi Chaim Chouri immigrated to Israel and passed away in Be’er Sheva on the 25th of Iyar, 1957. He is buried there, and his gravesite has since become a beacon for prayer and hope. Every day, dozens come to pray, and on the anniversary of his death, large crowds gather to pour out their hearts before the Creator at this sacred site.

His legacy as a scholar, miracle worker, and man of unshakable faith and kindness continues to illuminate the path of countless Jews in Israel and around the world.