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Сила Теилим

12 Shevat · Yahrzeit

Rabbi Chaim Kapusi - RaChaCh

Rabbi Chaim Kapusi - RaChaCh - a halachic judge and commentator on the Torah, one of the greatest sages of Egypt. (1540-1641). Yahrzeit - 12 Shevat Burial place - Cairo, Egypt Rabbi Chaim was one of the outstanding rabbis of Egypt, a sage of Torah who knew both the revealed and hidden Torah. He was especially close to Rabbi Yosef Baghiliar, who studied under the Arizal in Tzfat. This close friendship with Rabbi Yosef brought him into contact with the Gurei Ari (the disciples of the Arizal, Rabbi Yitzchak Luria), and he is counted among them. Rabbi Chaim Kapusi was called the Miracle Worker because of a certain incident. He spent the greater part of his days serving as a Dayan, and in his old age he became blind. One day he heard rumors that (chas ve-shalom) he had accepted a bribe on Shabbat as a Dayan, and that this was why he had gone blind, as it is written: "Do not show favoritism and do not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise." (Devarim 16:19) After Rabbi Chaim learned that the evil rumors about him were only multiplying, he decided to prove the truth. One Shabbat, when everyone had gathered in the synagogue for the morning prayer, Rav Chaim approached the ark and said: "If you are indeed right, then may I never see the light of the sun again, but if I am right, may the light return to my eyes, as though I were born anew." And his prayer was accepted - as soon as Rav Chaim said this, his sight returned to him. A clear miracle occurred before the whole community - Rav Chaim was healed, he began to see and recognized every person, and the people, seeing this, felt ashamed of what they had done and asked for forgiveness. The community called him "Baal HaNes" (the Miracle Worker). Those who had slandered the Rav were later punished. In memory of this, Rav Kapusi composed a commentary on the Torah called "Be'or HaChaim" (In the Light of Life), alluding to the restored sight. The responsa of the RaChaCh remained in manuscript form for hundreds of years and were never printed. Many of his works still remain in manuscript, including his book "Sifrei Chaim" - a commentary on halachic midrash and a collection of sermons. The Chida said: "When I was young, I saw the signature of Rav Kapusi from when he was still blind, and it was very illegible, as one would expect from a blind man. I also saw the signature of Rav Kapusi after his sight was restored, clear and legible, and it read: 'G-d, Who performed a miracle for Rav Chaim Kapusi.'" Rav Kapusi answered halachic questions from Egyptian Jews and also maintained contact with various rabbis throughout the Middle East. His writings provide information about Egyptian Jewry and many Jewish communities throughout the world at the time of the Ottoman Empire and North Africa. On the 12th of Shevat, 1641, Rabbi Chaim Kapusi returned his soul to his Maker, and his grave is preserved in Egypt to this day and is a site of pilgrimage. In the photo is the synagogue in Cairo where Rabbi Chaim prayed, called "Beit Knesset Rabbi Chaim Baal HaNes." After the expulsion of the Jews from Egypt, a synagogue named for Rav Kapusi was also established in the Land of Israel, in the city of Holon.   Segula On the Yahrzeit of the Tzadik who experienced a miracle and had his eyesight restored, there is a very powerful segula for the healing of the eyes, in the merit of the Tzadik Rabbi Chaim Kapusi - RaChaCh. May the merit of the Tzadik protect the people of Israel!   (9https://dailyzohar.com/tzadikim/161-Rabbi-Chaim-Kapusi-of-Cairo)