This blog would not want the the anniversary of the passing of the Ben Ish Chai,one of the great masters of Kabbalah and Jewish Law, to go unnoticed. Born in Baghdad, he died 101 years ago. On the day of his hilulah last month, Israel National News published the following:Multitudes in Israel remember Rabbi Yosef Chaim of Baghdad (1832 – 1909), known as the Ben Ish Chai, literally, the 'Son of Man who Lives', after his most famous book. Today is his 'hillulah' (Sephardic name for anniversary of passing), which is observed by the lighting of a candle and speaking about his teachings.
The Ben Ish Chai is considered one of the greatest sages of Israel in recent generations and the head of the Iraqi scholars. He was one of the leading lights of Kabbalah (Book of Jewish Mysticism) in his generation, and he taught many customs and practices based on Kabbalah which have since become accepted among the multitudes of Israel.
Today there are many Rabbis who study the Ben Ish Chai's works and act according to his principles. One of the well-known masters of Halacha (Jewish Law) who followed the Ben Ish Chai was Chief Sephardic Rabbi of Israel Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu, who took care to rule in matters of Jewish Law according to the opinion of the Ben Ish Chai, whose legal opinions were rooted in Kabbalah. Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu passed away this year.
The Ben Ish Chai wrote over 80 books. He gave many Torah lectures to the masses, in which he inspired his listeners to love the Torah and fear G-d. Within his lectures on Torah verses, he interwove practical matters of Jewish law, behavior, and action.
Read article in full
Wikipedia entry (with thanks: Eliyahu)
The Ben Ish Hai is buried in the Qidron Valley נחל קדרון
ReplyDeletein Jerusalem. If Obama and Hilary and Abu Mazen have their way, Jews will not be able to visit his tomb. They want to give that area over to control by the "palestinian state" that they envision. But the Palestinian Authority has already said that Jews don't have the right to visit Jewish holy places under its control, present or future. They also claim that Jewish holy places are not really Jewish, are Jewish inventions, an infringement on Arab/Muslim sovereignty and like excuses.