Hacham Yaakov Hai Zrihan


Hacham Yaakov Hai Zrihan

Date of Birth: 5629 (1869)
Date of Death: 21st of Av, 5713 (1953)
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A Short Tribute

Hacham Yaakov Hai Zrihan was born to Simcha and Baruch in Tiberias in 1869. He began his Torah studies with Hacham David 'Abo, and continued with Hacham Raphael Moshe Ben Naim and Hacham David Haim Sathon.  Hacham Yaakov Hai Zrihan married Leah.

 

Hacham Yaakov Hai Zrihan was renowned for his deep knowledge of halakha and of the direct meaning of Scripture as well for his ongoing involvement in the hidden and mystical aspects of Torah. He jointly established the Keter Torah yeshiva on HaShuk Street in Tiberias with Hacham Eliyahu Illouz. They both also served as dayanim in the Tiberias Rabbinic Court.

Hacham Yaakov Hai Zrihan was called "the friendly rabbi" because of his genial ways with people and his patience in dealing with all queries. He taught Torah to everyone, and knew how to adapt himself to others. Hacham Yaakov Hai Zrihan was also fluent in poetry, song and maqam [musical theory of Arab music].

Hacham Yaakov Hai Zrihan presided over the Rambam Kollel, oversaw operations for the city's yeshivot and headed the committee for the rebuilding of the Etz Haim Synagogue on the edge of the Sea of Galilee. He bequeathed his home and books to the Yaakov Ve'Leah Beit Midrash.

 

Hacham Yaakov Hai Zrihan passed away on 21 Menahem-Av, 5713 (1953) and was buried in Tiberias. He wrote many books and on a variety of topics, including Halaq Yaakov – sermons, Bikurie Yaakov – responsa, Ohel Yaakov and Shufria DeYaakov – on the weekly Torah Reading Portions, and Shoshannat HaAmaqim – sermons and original commentary.

 

A few quotes from the Rabbi on Heritage of the Fathers
in which he teaches that a tsaddik [righteous person] who is involved with people is preferable, because the generation of his time benefits from him
"Had Noah been part of Abraham's generation, he would not have been taken into account". Why is only Abraham mentioned, when one could also include Hanoch and Methuselah? In order to understand, we must distinguish between two types of tsaddikim. There are those who isolate themselves and do not involve themselves with other people, and there are those who are involved with others. Which are we to consider preferable? The commentators wrote that the involved one is preferable, despite the fact that the isolated one gains more in Torah and from sanctity and abstinence, which is not the case with a person involved with others. In the latter's case, the tzaddik's generation benefits from him…Hanoch and Methuselah were [righteous] only for themselves, while it says about Abraham "For I have known that he command his children and household after him to do charity and justice".
Hacham Yaakov Hai Zrihan, Shoshannat HaAmaqim (in Mayim 'Amuqim) p. 77, Jerusalem 1978 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”.

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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."