A Short Tribute
Hacham Abraham Abuhatzeira was born to Esther and Yitzhak in 1915, in Tafilalt, Morocco. He learned Torah from his father, Hacham Yitzhak Abuhatzeira – the Baba Khaki, and from his uncle Hacham Israel Abuhatzeira, the Baba Sali.
In 1929 he married his cousin Rakhma, Hacham Israel Abuhatzeira's eldest daughter. He immigrated to Israel with his family in 1949, and began to officiate as the town of Yavneh's rabbi. He remained in this position for 20 years. In 1970, following the death of his father, Rabbi of the city of Ramleh, he agreed to inherit his position and served in this role for the remainder of his life.
Hacham Abraham Abuhatzeira passed away on 22 Kislev, 5734 (1974), leaving behind a large collection of writings that were collated into a book entitled Toldot Abraham.
A few quotes from the Rabbi on 'Redemption of Israel' in which he teaches of Abraham's test in facing the challenge of immigrating to the Land of Israel
"The forefathers' deeds are embodied in their sons". The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Abraham, may he rest in peace, testing him with a great challenge, "Go from your country" – your country and its people, to which you are accustomed, where your commerce thrives as it should, "and from your homeland" – where you were born and have many friends and acquaintances, "and your father's household" – leave your family, parents, brothers and sisters. You must leave everything behind and go to the place I will show you…
Why did He test him with the challenge of immigration? For the reason we mentioned above, "forefathers' deeds are embodied in their sons". It was revealed and known to the Holy One, blessed be He, that the People of Israel were to be in exile and become accustomed to the place where they were born, to being outside the Land, in a place where their commerce runs well, and where their acquaintances and friends extend beyond their families, and where they may even have friends among the non-Jews. How then would they be able to leave everything behind, to separate from their families and acquaintances, and leave their successful businesses? It is all well and good to cite the commandment of settling the Land of Israel and the reunification of the exiled as a reason…
If life outside Israel was good to us, it will be all the better in the Land of Israel, where Divine providence always dwells, as is written, "It is a land which the LORD your God looks after, on which the LORD your God always keeps His eye, from year's beginning to year's end." Heaven forbid that we dare say that our life here is not good.
We must stand up to the test as did Abraham our forefather, may he rest in peace, who succeeded in all his endeavors thanks to his powerful faith in the Holy One, blessed be He. So must we believe with complete faith, and follow the same path we did outside Israel, worshipping God with all our might, here, as well. God is only testing us, and if we stand up to the challenge we will certainly meet with success and wellbeing.
Toldot Abraham, p. 7, HaRav Abraham Moghrabi Publishing, 1980
A few quotes from the Rabbi on 'Love of Israel'
A few quotes from the Rabbi on 'Tzedakah and Healing'
1915-1974