Stories of Tzadikim - Rabbi Chaim ben Attar

Stories of Tzadikim - Rabbi Chaim ben Attar

Rabbi Chaim ben Attar, better known by the title of his book, “Or HaChaim”, was born and raised in the city of Salé, Morocco. The tzadik was a masterful embroiderer, adorning fabrics with gold and silver thread, and earned his livelihood through his work. He had one rule: once he had earned enough for the week’s sustenance, he would immediately stop working and devote himself exclusively to Torah study. One day, when the Sultan, ruler of Salé, was preparing to marry off his daughter and was searching for the finest craftsman to create luxurious fabrics for the wedding, he was told about Rabbi Chaim. He sent his servants to him. The servants came to the Rav and demanded that he embroider fabrics for clothing for the Sultan’s entire family within a week. Rabbi Chaim ben Attar immediately refused the commission, saying that he had already completed his quota and could do no more—other matters were awaiting him. The messengers reported the entire conversation to the Sultan and, some time later, returned with threats: if he did not begin working at once, he would be sentenced to death. When he refused again, the servants were ordered to throw the Jew into the lion’s pit at the Sultan’s palace. Beforehand, the Sultan ordered that the lions not be fed, so that the insolent Jew would be punished for his disobedience with a gruesome death. The roar of the hungry lions could be heard from afar as the Sultan’s messengers led the Jewish rabbi to their den. When Or HaChaim was thrown to the lions, the Sultan’s messengers were astonished by the scene before them: the hungry lions surrounded the rabbi, wagging their tails and paying him homage. Or HaChaim took a book of Tehillim from his pocket and began reading, sitting surrounded by the lions. When the Sultan heard what had happened, he hurried to the site to see with his own eyes what was taking place. He witnessed a breathtaking spectacle: the Jew was chanting psalms surrounded by pacified lions, who seemed to be hanging on his every word. The Sultan understood that this was no ordinary man. He ordered the Chacham to be brought out of the den, asked the holy Rav for forgiveness, and bestowed great honors upon him. When Or HaChaim was later asked how he had managed this, he explained that one who preserves his “Tzelem Elokim” (the likeness and image of G-d, literally “G-d’s shadow”) remembers that we were created in His image—and this inspires fear in animals: “no animal overcomes a human being unless it appears to the animal as another animal.” (Shabbat 151b)