A Short Tribute
Hacham Moshe Abirmat (Abormad) was born circa 1878 in Taroudant, Morocco, in the Sous valley district of south Morocco. As a young man he studied in Marrakesh, the capital city of south Morocco and a city of scholars and kabbalists, and attended Hacham David Shlush's yeshiva. However, he acquired most of his learning on his own in his home town, from books.
Hacham Moshe Abirmat officiated as the Taroudant community's rabbi and spiritual leader for decades. There were no yeshivot or study houses in Taroudant in his day, aside from a few heder learning settings where children were taught reading and Chumash, but the excelling pupils were taught and educated by Hacham Moshe Abirmat.
Hacham Moshe Abirmat passed away in Taroudant on 27 Tammuz 5719. His son, René Kalifa Abirmat, had his book, VaYomer Moshe, published.
A few quotes from the Rabbi on 'Traditions of the Fathers' in which he teaches of the merit of tsaddikim, who protect the pure of heart and broken-hearted who visit their tombs
"I have gained more understanding than my elders, for I observe Your precepts." This helps explain how the Jewish custom of visiting the tombs of tzaddikim and praying there, that their merit protect them and guard them from all trouble, distress, illness and the like.
The reason behind this custom is that deceased tsaddikim are said to have remained alive through their praying for life and peace for us, and that their prayer is more effective than ours…
Those whose prayers were answered because of a tzaddik's merit came pure of heart, strong in their repentance and broken-hearted, which is why their prayers were answered. This is what our lord King David meant, in saying "my elders" – referring to the tsaddikim, who are considered alive after their deaths; "I have gained more understanding" why the prayers of some are answered - because of their merit; and to defend protect and guard them from all sorts of disaster, because "I observe Your precepts" and am free of transgression.
VaYomer Moshe – Original Commentary on the Bible and Sermons, p. 293, published by the Bnei Issachar Institute, The Sephardi Library, Jerusalem, 2007
