Hacham Eliyahu Ben Harosh


Hacham Eliyahu Ben Harosh

Date of Birth: 5577 (1817)
Date of Death: 13th of Sivan, 5643 (1883)
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A Short Tribute

Hacham Eliyahu Ben Harosh was born to Esther Niddam and Abraham Harosh circa 1817 in Sefrou, Morocco. He studied Torah with Hacham Yehoshua Israel Yaakov Ben Ouliel.

In 1837, Hacham Eliyahu Ben Harosh married Mas'ouda, his teacher's granddaughter, and the couple had four daughters.

Hacham Eliyahu Ben Eliyahu was a person of great humility who devoted his time entirely to

Torah study and was famous for his sermons and poetry.

Hacham Eliyahu Ben Eliyahu passed away on 13 Sivan, 5643 (1883). He authored two books: Birkat Eliyahu – original commentary on the Bible, and Kos Eliyahu – a commentary on the Passover Haggadah.

A few quotes from the Rabbi on Love of Israel
in which he teaches to speak gently to those who are connected and united, that they be as one house

"Thus shall you say to the house of Jacob and declare to the children of Israel." It is a known fact that the word "house" is used to refer to assembly and unity, as we interpret "It shall be eaten in one house" to mean 'in one group'. Our sages, of blessed memory, said that the name Jacob is used when they (the People of Israel) do not do the will of the LORD, and the name Israel is used when they do His will. This is the sense in which "Thus shall you say" is said – in gentle words to those called the house of Jacob, meaning that despite their being called the house of Jacob for not having yet repented, unified and become one house, speak to them in gentle words. But "And declare", means harsh words, and is used to refer to the children of Israel when they are being called "the children Israel", for despite that they do His will and are called by the name Israel, since they are not unified and are being named children of Israel in the plural, speak to them in harsh words.

Hacham Eliyahu Ben Harosh, Birkat Eliyahu, p. 70, Haddad Printing, Djerba, 1938 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."