14 Kislev · Yahrzeit
Rabbi David Abuchatzira - Brother of Baba Sali
14 Kislev is the Yahrzeit of Rabbi David ben Machsud Abuchatzira - (the elder brother of Baba Sali), who sacrificed himself for the sake of his community.
In 5680 (1919), Muhammad the mullah raised a rebellion in Morocco against the French.
A Muslim fanatic, he hated Jews. Muhammad imposed harsh restrictions on the Jews, accusing them of supporting the French.
At that time, the rabbi of the community of the city of Tafilalt, Rabbi David Abuchatzira, the elder brother of Baba Sali (may his merit protect us), was engaged in studying matters connected with the sanctification of G-d's Name and the death of the Ten Martyrs of the (Roman) kingdom. A few days after the beginning of the month of Kislev, the mullah issued a decree to destroy and exterminate all the Jews living in his domain, but did not specify the exact date for carrying out the decree.
On Shabbat, the 14th of Kislev, Rabbi David Abuchatzira did not put on white clothing for Shabbat, as is customary among kabbalists, but remained in his ordinary black garments.
He shortened the Shabbat meal and shut himself in his room; the same happened again after the morning prayer. At noon, soldiers surrounded the Jewish quarter of Hamlach and ordered all the Jews to gather in the square. Naturally, everyone rushed to the Rabbi, weeping and begging him to try to prevent the massacre. The Rabbi calmed everyone, saying that indeed a punishment had been decreed for them in Heaven, but that he, the Rabbi, had asked the Creator to take his soul as an atonement for the sins of the entire community!
At that moment soldiers arrived with an order to bring the Rabbi before the ruler. The Rabbi left his house accompanied by the soldiers, and the entire community followed behind him in mournful silence. When the procession arrived at the ruler's house, everyone was ordered to disperse to their homes, with the added warning that anyone who remained would be killed.
Furthermore: the ruler decided not to kill all the Jews, but to deal only with their leader. The people cried out in grief, but only the Rabbi was content, for his prayer had been heard!
The ruler chose a terrible execution: the Rabbi was tied to the muzzle of a cannon and it was fired...
The grief and sorrow of the Jews were boundless. However, the ruler forbade mourning for the Rabbi, threatening that anyone who wept would be killed.
The residents of Tafilalt collected money and gave it to the mullah in order to bury what remained of the Rabbi, who had given his soul to save the community.
Faith
Once Rabbi David Abuchatzira met a man who considered himself very clever. The man asked the Rabbi how to understand the meaning of the mitzvot. Why is it strictly forbidden to shave with a blade razor, such that one who shaves with a blade is considered as if he had eaten pork five times, G-d forbid! Yet shaving with an electric "machine" is permitted?
What is the difference?
The Rabbi said to him: "I would gladly answer you, but right now I am busy. The doctor gave my wife medicine, and I am rushing to him so that he can explain to me why he gave this particular medicine and in this particular dosage. Until I have fully clarified everything, I cannot allow my wife to begin the treatment!"
The man said: "Forgive me, but in my opinion, the Rabbi should go home, not to the doctor, for the doctor knows what he is doing. And even if he wanted to explain it to the Rabbi, he could not, since the Rabbi has not studied medicine and does not know its secrets. If the doctor is a specialist, one must simply take his medicines in order to recover!"
The Rabbi said: "If only your ears would listen to what your own mouth is saying! The doctor is a person just like us, who studied under people just like us - yet you trust him with your eyes closed, even though you know there are medicines that can cause harm, and there are bad doctors too. But the Creator is the source of all wisdom and understanding, and our intellect is but a drop in the ocean compared to His wisdom - yet you do not believe in His commandment and ask to understand His mysteries?"
May the merit of the tzadik protect Am Yisrael!