Hacham Eliezer Rachamim Yedid Halevy


Hacham Eliezer Rachamim Yedid Halevy

Date of Birth: Av, 5645 (1885)
Date of Death: 24th of Adar, 5694 (1934)
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A Short Tribute

Hacham Eliezer Rachamim Yedid Halevy was born to Rachel Biton and Hacham Yom Tov in 1885 in Aleppo, Syria. When he was three years of age, his family immigrated to the Land of Israel and settled in Jerusalem.

Hacham Eliezer Rachamim Yedid Halevy studied Torah with his father and in the Porat Yosef yeshiva, and continued his studies at the Rehovot HaNahar and Beit El kabbalist yeshivot.

Hacham Eliezer Rachamim Yedid Halevy married Malcah and the couple had several children, three of whom they named were Yaakov, Yitzhak and Abraham.

Hacham Eliezer Rachamim Yedid Halevy passed away on 24 Adar5694 (1934) and was buried in Jerusalem. His is the author of several books, including Devar Eliezer – on the commandment to be fruitful and multiply, Torah study and charity; Minhat Eliezer – a commentary on Rabbi Haim Vital's Etz HaHaim; Aryeh Sha'ag – a collection of moral aphorisms from the Talmud, the Midrash and the Kabbala, that includes prayers and supplications; Simchat Yom Tov – eulogies for his father, Hacham Yom Tov Yedid Halevy, Hacham Mordecai Lebaton's hymns and two of Rabbi Eliezer's sermons; and Shivchei MaHRa"M – the life and times of Hacham Mordecai Levaton.

A few quotes from the Rabbi on Customs of Israel
in which he teaches that swaying to and fro during prayer is not appropriate behavior
If we interpret "All my bones shall say…" to mean that a person sway during recitation, it was not meant to refer to prayer but to psalms and other parts of the service, and not to the ‘Amida [Eighteen Benedictions]. A person who sways cannot focus their intention, whereas a person who stands steady can increase their focus, this is verifiable. Also, it is not appropriate behavior to sway before the King as might a tree in the forest before the wind, and it says "…acacia trees, standing" – Seraphim stand as do rooted trees.
Hacham Eliezer Rachamim Yedid Halevy, Rabbi Eliezer Yedid Halevy's Books, Aryeh Sha'ag, p. 176, Yeshivat Kedushat Yom Tov Press, Jerusalem, 2008 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”. 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.”

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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."