Hacham Svi Didi


Hacham Svi Didi

Date of Birth: 22nd of Av, 5689 (1929)
Date of Death: 2nd of Tamuz, 5740 (1980)
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A Short Tribute

Hacham Svi Didi was born to Bruria and Binyamin on 22 Av, 5689 (1929) in Djerba, Tunisia. He began his Torah studies with his father, Hacham Binyamin Mekiketz Didi, and Hacham Mordecai Sigron.

Hacham Svi Didi married Camissa, and the couple had sons and daughters born to them. Their son, Hacham Shlomo Didi, currently officiates as a rabbi in the Jordan Valley Regional Council.

In 1949, Hacham Svi Didi immigrated to Israel with his family and settled in Tiberias, where he taught at the Or Torah yeshiva adjacent to Maimonides' tomb.

Hacham Svi Didi was known for his great humility, and gave a daily class in ethics and Halakha at the Yad Binyamin synagogue, named after his father. Every Sabbath he would serve as the cantor and preacher of the Magen David synagogue, located on the crest of a mountain, notwithstanding the strenuous effort required of him and regardless of the weather conditions.

Hacham Svi Didi passed away after a prolonged illness on 2 Tammuz, 5740 (1980). He is the author of Eretz Svi, a book of responsa and original commentary on Torah and Talmud.

A few quotes from the Rabbi on Love of Israel
in which he teaches not to refrain from assisting even those who pursue material wealth and follow the passions of their evil inclination

"When you see the ass of your enemy lying under its burden and would refrain from raising it, you must nevertheless raise it with him". This would be, it seems to me, a covert reference: "the ass of your enemy" means the individual who follows the counsel of their evil inclination, which is termed "enemy", as our sages of blessed memory said, concerning "The wicked watches for the righteous". In other words, one who pursues the world's impure matter and follows the evil inclination's passions. Should you see such a person, sinking and collapsing under the burden of the evil inclination, and would refrain from raising him up – do not say to them 'what do I care? I leave you in peace'. "You must nevertheless raise it with him". Try to help that person and draw him closer to the Shechina's canopy.

Hacham Svi Didi, Eretz Svi, p.5597, Arazi Press, Tel Aviv, Tiberias, 1971 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."