Hacham Amor Abitbol


Hacham Amor Abitbol

Date of Birth: 5542 (1782)
Date of Death: 1st of Shevat, 5614 (1854)
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A Short Tribute

Hacham Amor Abitbol, son of Shlomo, was born in 1782 in Sefrou, Morocco. In 1798 he married Donna Elbaz and the couple had ten children born to them.

Hacham Amor Abitbol dealt in commerce and would study Torah during the night. He was famous for his hospitality and his home was open to everyone. Hacham Yaakov Abuhatzeira – known as the Abir Yaakov – would be his guest whenever he came to Sefrou from Tafilalt.

Hacham Amor Abitbol corresponded with the sages of his day, including Hacham Yitzhak ben Walid, Hacham Yosef Birdugo, Hacham Amram Elbaz and others. He had many students, including Hacham Moshe Raphael Elbaz, known as the RAM"A.

Hacham Amor Abitbol died on 1 Shevat, 5614 (1854) after a prolonged illness.

Hacham Amor Abitbol wrote extensive explanations and original commentary on the Torah that were published in the following books: Minhat ‘Omer – Responsa, ‘Omer Hatnufa – Commentary on the Torah, ‘Omer Man – Sermons on the weekly Torah Readings, Et HaZmir – missives and poesies, Shirat ‘Omer – commentaries on legends of our sages, Shirat Ha’Omer – poems and liturgical songs.

 

A few quotes from the Rabbi on Tzedakah and Hesed
in which he teaches that charity is a face to face encounter, as when a person kisses a friend

“Faithfulness and truth meet”. Meaning that whenever one does charity for its own sake, in true faith, then “justice and peace kiss”, meaning that the attribute of justice and the attribute of peace join face to face, just as when a person kisses a friend face to face. Abundance then fills the world, mercy flourishes, verdicts become more moderate and the world is replete. This is also indicated by the verse “Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God is One”. The people of Israel inform one another and say to each other that the attributes of the Eternal - that is, the Name of mercy and the Name of God that means judgment must be bound together and united. That is what "God is One" means – that Jews inform one another and say to each other that "we are all to be face to face and joined by the love of God, that we may love Him with all our souls and with all our might" – referring to the commandment of giving of one's wealth to charity. That is the meaning of "Love the Lord your God".

Hacham Amor Abitbol, Hacham Amor Abitbol, Omer Man, p. 263, Beit Oved Institute, Jerusalem, 1989 From 'The Daily Sage'
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"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” (Proverbs 20:27). 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” (Proverbs 6:23). And it is good to increase the teaching of the Sage on the anniversary of his death, as Rabbi Yochanan based on the teachings of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai said, “Each scholar whose sayings are taught in this world, his lips speak from the grave (Bechorot 31B).”

“Even if all of the skies are a blank parchment, and all human beings are clerks, and all of the forests are quills, we would never be able to write down what our Sages have taught us. 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.”

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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." (Isaiah 42:21).