1 Cheshvan · Yahrzeit
Yahrzeit/Hilula of David u-Moshe – 40 Candles
Rabbi David u-Moshe – 40 Candles – Tzadik of Morocco
Yahrzeit – Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan;
Burial place – Morocco, Tamzrit – in Israel, at his request, the visiting site is – Tzfat;
Rabbi David u-Moshe is especially famous among Moroccan Jews.
He became known as a miracle worker both during his lifetime and after his passing.
His real name was Rabbi David ben Moshe, but over time he came to be called Rabbi
David u-Moshe – this is how the righteous man was called by the residents of the local villages in their dialect.
The tzadik's grave is located in Morocco, in the village of Tamzrit, at the top of a mountain that is dangerous to climb. Rabbi David u-Moshe lived in Jerusalem in the 12th century, during the reign of Sultan Moulay Abd al-Rahman in Morocco.
He was known as an outstanding talmid chacham and preacher. He was repeatedly sent abroad to raise funds for the local yeshiva.
Wherever he traveled, he was received with great honor. On one of his trips to Morocco, the Rabbi arrived at a village atop the Atlas Mountains, where he learned that an epidemic was spreading through the settlement, killing many Jews and Muslims every day. He and his assistants began caring for the sick, disregarding the danger to themselves.
After several days, on Shabbat evening, the Rabbi went with his assistants to one of the mountains, and there, in a cave at its summit, began praying for the sick. His servant somehow overheard that the tzadik was ready to sacrifice his own soul in order to stop the epidemic and save all the Jews and the sick. The tzadik handed his mantle to his assistant and asked him to return alone to the village. Upon returning, the servant was astonished: the epidemic had receded, and the sick had recovered.
When Shabbat ended, the villagers went out and headed toward the cave.
To their astonishment, the entrance to the cave was blocked by an enormous piece of rock. They began reciting Tehillim, and then they saw above the cave a fire resembling the fire of the Menorah. Opposite the Menorah stood the tzadik's tombstone. From that time to this very day, Jews and Muslims alike tell of the miracles that happen to them thanks to prayer in this cave for the elevation of the righteous man's soul.
The day of Rabbi David u-Moshe's passing is considered to be
Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan, and on this day the Hilula is solemnly celebrated in Morocco and in Tzfat, at the house of Rabbi David u-Moshe.
40 Candles
Shortly after the Yom Kippur War in 1973, Avraham ben Chaim, a father of 10 children who had made aliyah from Morocco in 1935, settled in Tzfat and worked as a forester in the forests of Tzfat, began having the same dream every night.
Avraham ben Chaim tells of his first dream: a man in white garments was standing beside me, his face shining like an angel's. He came up to me and led me to high mountains. Among the rocks I saw a small open space, to which he led me, and there he sat down on the ground and said: "Look, only 10 people now mark the day of my passing, and I ask you, why have the Jews of Morocco forgotten and abandoned me? Where are all the tens of thousands who used to come to me, my followers and my faithful ones, who came here year after year?" I answered him: "Rabbi, do you want all the Jews who left Morocco to come back there specifically for your Yahrzeit?" Then Rabbi David turned me around and asked: "What is this place where we are standing?" I answered him: "This is my house."
Then the Rabbi said: "I want you to celebrate the day of my Hilula in this place, year after year.
I am Rabbi David u-Moshe. I am the one who prays before the Most High that He guard the borders of Israel and the soldiers of Israel.
Why have the Jews of Morocco abandoned me?
That is why I am now in the Holy Land, and I want the celebration of my Hilula to resume here, in this place."
Two days later he appeared to me again in a dream, as I lay on my bed between sleep and waking. He said to me: "You did not tell people correctly that you saw me in a dream. You should have told them that you saw me while awake. But I forgive you. Now listen to what I tell you. I have left Morocco and decided to settle here, for this place is holy, and I have chosen you to be my servant. Therefore do the following:
1. Set up a place where candles will be lit in my memory. Anyone who wishes to make a request for themselves should light one candle.
2. Next to the place for the candles, place a charity box, and people will be able to put in money as they wish.
3. Everyone who approaches the place to light candles must approach with reverence and do so with all their heart.
4. Everyone who enters here must be clean in body and righteous in their deeds.
5. These candles must not be resold or traded. Everyone who lights them must be clean and righteous, as stated above.
6. This place must be open to all people, day and night.
7. During the memorial meal there must be no distinction between adults and children, rich and poor. All must be equal.
8. The memorial meal must be held at night on Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan.
If Rosh Chodesh falls on Friday, then the meal should be held Thursday night.
9. Warn your wife and the rest of your household not to allow anyone who is not ritually pure to enter here.
10. With the donations you receive, expand this place so that tens of thousands can come here to pray – fill this whole space, and may you be blessed!"
Based on this dream, a custom arose of coming to the house of Rabbi David u-Moshe in Tzfat, purchasing there
40 candles, lighting the first candle in the house of Rabbi David u-Moshe, and the remaining 39 at home.
While lighting the candles, one request is made to the Most High, in the merit of the tzadik. All visitors are asked to treat this place with care and to follow the instructions of the members of Avraham ben Chaim's family, who watch over the upkeep of this place day and night so that all who wish may come here to pray.
Pilgrimage site:
Grave: David u-Moshe