ABOUT THE PROJECT
The 'Daily Sage' A Tradition Never to be Forgotten
The rich Jewish tradition of Sephardic Jewry and Jews from Islamic lands (Mizrachim), and specifically the open and fruitful meeting of this tradition with modernity, promotes a moderate and inclusive Jewish identity that does not force its values; a Judaism in whose center are social values – morality, ethics, humanity. All of these are "gifts" that are worthy to be shared with all of Israeli society, so that the Jewish Mizrachi heritage will not be limited to Mizrachim alone, but rather will have the potential to share an identity that goes beyond ethnicity, to create a shared base that is not sectorial, but that includes all of Israel. "And the knowledgeable will be radiant like the bright expanse of sky, and those who lead the many to righteousness will be like the stars forever and ever." (Daniel, 12:3).
Vision of the 'Daily Sage' website
The Daily Sage is an accessible online database of the sages of Israel from recent generations and their Torah teachings on topics such as Love of Israel, Charity and Mercy, Torah Study, Customs of Israel, Heritage of the Fathers, Redemption of Israel, and Israel and the Nations.
Each day, a page is dedicated to a different sage, marking the anniversary of that sage’s passing. This database serves as a foundation for daily study in synagogues, communities, and schools. Day by day, we gather the scattered stones of memory and build from them a lasting structure—its foundation on holy mountains, its peak reaching toward heaven.
May it be the will of the G-d of Heaven to preserve for us all the sages of Israel, the holy ones of the land, wherever they lived, and may their merit protect us now and always.
The Daily Sage is an initiative of Alliance: Kol Israel Haverim, a leading Israeli educational organization founded in 1860 in France. Its mission has been to unite Jews in acts of solidarity, mutual aid, and shared responsibility based on universal values and the betterment of humanity. Over the years, the organization has cultivated an educated and modern generation connected to an open and inclusive Jewish tradition, laying strong foundations for the return of the Jewish people to their homeland and the establishment of the State of Israel.
Kol Israel Haverim promotes educational excellence and local leadership in the country's periphery, cultivates a unifying Israeli Judaism, and creates connections to the Sephardic tradition and to French Jewry. The organization initiates programs of intervention and empowerment in schools and in the community, and trains educational and local leadership as a means of fostering sustainable social and educational change. By linking academic achievement with identity processes, Kol Israel Haverim advances a diverse, inclusive, and unifying Jewish tradition.
The wisdom, values, love, compassion, and unity found on the pages of The Daily Sage have the power to inspire and revive those seeking spiritual nourishment. Those who embrace, study, and share these teachings are encouraged to spread them joyfully, knowing that their efforts will always be blessed.
Thanks and blessings to those who are involved in the work.
To the loyal partners who make the study of the Sages possible: 500 first Sages thanks to the support of the Kahanof Foundation, 500 additional Sages thanks to the support of the Posen Foundation, and the translation of the website into English thanks to the support of the Montefiore Foundation. To the team of the ‘Daily Sage’ - the writers and the researchers: Dana Shamsian, Maayan Maimon, Roni Mualem, Yigal David; Drori Yehoshua, Asher Griner, Racheli Abuhatzeira, Aviel Javori, Rabbi Yitzhak Gabbay; David Saada, Raziel Zakbach, Eli Golan, Yair Saadon, Rabbi Eran Bar Kochba, Noam Wertheimer, Shlomit Boni. English Translators - Debbie Snyder Eliraz, Oriel Ben Shabbat. The advisors and assistants - Rabbi Yitzhak Shuraki, Rabbi David Zeno, Haya Ne’eman, Mazal Davidi, Ran Hori, and Hani Mamram; Thanks to the partnership with the Jerusalem Forum led by Shmuel Yelma in writing the pages of the charming Ethiopian sages (forum website - www.forumyerusalem.org)
And I too have made my nights like days to benefit the many - with the blessing of Eli Barkat.
The texts and images are owned by the owners of the rights to the books and images.
"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” (Proverbs 20:27). 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” (Proverbs 6:23). And it is good to increase the teaching of the Sage on the anniversary of his death, as Rabbi Yochanan based on the teachings of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai said, “Each scholar whose sayings are taught in this world, his lips speak from the grave (Bechorot 31B).”
“Even if all of the skies are a blank parchment, and all human beings are clerks, and all of the forests are quills, we would never be able to write down what our Sages have taught us. 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.”
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." (Isaiah 42:21).