Hacham Abraham Abuhatzeira


Hacham Abraham Abuhatzeira

Date of Birth: (1915)
Date of Death: 22nd of Kislev, 5734 (1974)
The Daily Sage, a database of Jewish Spanish sages
A Short Tribute

Hacham Abraham Abuhatzeira was born to Esther and Yitzhak in 1915, in Tafilalt, Morocco. He learned Torah from his father, Hacham Yitzhak Abuhatzeira – the Baba Khaki, and from his uncle Hacham Israel Abuhatzeira, the Baba Sali.

In 1929 he married his cousin Rakhma, Hacham Israel Abuhatzeira's eldest daughter. He immigrated to Israel with his family in 1949, and began to officiate as the town of Yavneh's rabbi. He remained in this position for 20 years. In 1970, following the death of his father, Rabbi of the city of Ramleh, he agreed to inherit his position and served in this role for the remainder of his life.

Hacham Abraham Abuhatzeira passed away on 22 Kislev, 5734 (1974), leaving behind a large collection of writings that were collated into a book entitled Toldot Abraham.

A few quotes from the Rabbi on Redemption of Israel
in which he teaches of Abraham's test in facing the challenge of immigrating to the Land of Israel
"The forefathers' deeds are embodied in their sons". The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Abraham, may he rest in peace, testing him with a great challenge, "Go from your country" – your country and its people, to which you are accustomed, where your commerce thrives as it should, "and from your homeland" – where you were born and have many friends and acquaintances, "and your father's household" – leave your family, parents, brothers and sisters. You must leave everything behind and go to the place I will show you… Why did He test him with the challenge of immigration? For the reason we mentioned above, "forefathers' deeds are embodied in their sons". It was revealed and known to the Holy One, blessed be He, that the People of Israel were to be in exile and become accustomed to the place where they were born, to being outside the Land, in a place where their commerce runs well, and where their acquaintances and friends extend beyond their families, and where they may even have friends among the non-Jews. How then would they be able to leave everything behind, to separate from their families and acquaintances, and leave their successful businesses? It is all well and good to cite the commandment of settling the Land of Israel and the reunification of the exiled as a reason… If life outside Israel was good to us, it will be all the better in the Land of Israel, where Divine providence always dwells, as is written, "It is a land which the LORD your God looks after, on which the LORD your God always keeps His eye, from year's beginning to year's end." Heaven forbid that we dare say that our life here is not good. We must stand up to the test as did Abraham our forefather, may he rest in peace, who succeeded in all his endeavors thanks to his powerful faith in the Holy One, blessed be He. So must we believe with complete faith, and follow the same path we did outside Israel, worshipping God with all our might, here, as well. God is only testing us, and if we stand up to the challenge we will certainly meet with success and wellbeing.
Hacham Abraham Abuhatzeira , Toldot Abraham, p. 7, HaRav Abraham Moghrabi Publishing, 1980 From 'The Daily Sage'
Support the Daily Sage


"It is our custom to light a yahrzeit candle in honor of the memory of the Sages, as it is said: “the life breath of man is the lamp of the Lord”. And it is good to add from the light of the Torah to the light of the candle, as it is said “For the commandment is a lamp, the teaching is a light”.

But even a few righteous are also good, and thanks to the sacred Torah and the teachings that Israel will learn in the Sage’s name on the anniversary of his death, the Holy One Blessed be He, will share our part with them, and we will never be ashamed because of our faith in the Holy One Blessed be He, and on his great benevolence and truth will we lean, for He hides his abundant goodness for those who are worthy and revere Him.”

The Daily Sage - An online database of Sephardic Jewish Sages

Rabbi Chananaia son of Akashia stated, God wanted to grant merits to Israel, therefore he gave them many laws and commandments as it states, "Because God wants righteousness he increased the amount of Torah and splendor."