Hacham Yitzchak Buchnik

Date of Birth: 5675 (1915)
Date of Death: 26th of Shevat, 5735 (1975)

The Daily Sage, a database of Jewish Spanish sages

A Short Tribute

Hacham Yitzhak Buchnik was born to (mother) Bahria in 1915 in Gabès, Tunisia.

He studied Torah with Hacham Matzliakh Mazouz and is considered his outstanding student; he also studied with Hacham David Kartoza and Hacham Yeshua Elimelech. Hacham Yitzhak Buchnik was proficient in Torah and in the sciences, and was fluent in French and Arabic. He served as Rosh Metivta in the Hevrat HaTalmud yeshiva, and gave Torah classes in synagogue; he taught during vacation periods as well.

Hacham Yitzhak Buchnik married Camissa, daughter of Hacham Yeshua Elimelech. Their son, Hai Menachem, died in a car accident in Toulouse, France in 1963. In 1975, Hacham Yitzhak Buchnik was flown to Israel for emergency medical treatment.

Hacham Yitzhak Buchnik passed away on 26 Shevat, 5735 (1975) and was buried on the Mount of Olives. His writings were published in a book entitled Vayomer Yitzhak, which contains original commentary on the Talmud, sermons and Responsa, as well as some of his son Hai Menachem's sermons.

A few quotes from the Rabbi on Tzedakah and Hesed

in which he praises the "hands and feet" of those who make the physical effort to collect charity

"Your hands were not bound, and your feet were not put in fetters". Two types of charity are familiar to us. In the first, a person gives but makes no effort to have others give. This is termed "One who has hands" – for the person opens his or her hands to give. The second type concerns those who make the physical effort to go from place to place, from shop to shop, to ask others to give to the poor but do not give on their own. This is termed "One who has feet" – a person who fulfills the commandment using their feet. Then there are those who take action and have others act as well, who give and who also collect from others, to involve them in the mitzvah; this is called "having hands and feet". That is the intent of Scripture in saying, "Your hands were not bound" – meaning that your hand should be open to (giving) charity; "your feet were not fettered" means to say: Use your feet as well, take the trouble to go from place to place to collect charity.

Hacham Yitzchak Buchnik, Vayomer Yitzhak,Part 3, Srmons, Sermon 2, p. 25b – 26a, Published by HaRav Matzliakh Institute, Bnei Brak, 1982 From 'The Daily Sage'