Rabbi Baruch Raphael ben Yaakov Toledano - The Tzadik with the Face of an Angel (1890-1971)
Yahrzeit - 18 Cheshvan
The illustrious Toledano family traces its origins to the city of Toledo, Spain.
In the year 5252 (1492), during the expulsion of the Jews from Spain, the ancestor of this family (Gaon Rabbi Yosef) left Toledo together with his son, Gaon Rabbi Daniel, leader of the sages of Castile.
The entire family vowed that neither they nor their descendants would ever again set foot on Spanish soil.
To commemorate this vow, they changed their family name to Toledano (meaning "No Toledo").
When the Jews were expelled from Spain, Rabbi Daniel decided to go to Morocco. He settled in Fez and established a large yeshiva there. Rabbi Daniel's two sons, Rabbi Chaim and Rabbi Yosef, were also great Torah scholars and held rabbinical positions in the city of Meknes.
Rabbi Yaakov had a majestic face, radiant like the sun; he resembled a divine angel. His son, Rabbi Baruch, was known from his youth for his pure and gentle soul. Year after year he ascended the rungs of Torah study and fear of G-d. He possessed vast knowledge in all areas of Torah, both hidden and revealed. His only aspiration and passion was the Torah, which he studied constantly.
At the age of 10 he fell gravely ill, and to help him recover, the name Raphael was added to his name. His teachers, Rabbi Chaim Berdugo (spiritual leader of the Meknes yeshiva) and Rabbi Chaim Massas (Dayan of Meknes), revealed to him the wisdom of the hidden Torah.
Within a few years, Rabbi Raphael Baruch Toledano became a great scholar in Shas and a posek. He then began studying Kabbalah with his teacher, Rabbi Yosef Elkubi.
TORAH STUDY
His deep and pure faith was revealed when, during prayer, he would recite the verse:
"Ha-Shem Melech, Ha-Shem Malach, Ha-Shem Yimloch le-Olam Va'ed."
He would explain: "Why did King David, may his soul rest in peace, change the order of the verse, writing first of the present, then of the past, and finally of the future? Logically, he should have written first of the past, then of the present, and finally of the future! This is meant to teach us that the foundation of faith lies in the present. We cannot feel G-d's Kingship in the past until we have accepted His rule in the present. Only by deeply rooting G-d's Kingship in our hearts - in every present moment - can we, with pure faith, come to understand His Kingship in the past and future."
The Journey to the Atlas Mountains
Rabbi Baruch Raphael Toledano once traveled to the Atlas Mountains on an important matter. He was shaken by the poverty of the Jewish residents of one of the towns there. Winter was approaching, and most people lacked even simple warm clothing. Children wandered the streets in worn-out shoes, many without socks, and often suffered from frostbite. Rabbi Raphael was shocked. He forgot the original purpose of his journey; all his thoughts turned to how he could improve the plight of his unfortunate brethren.
He returned as quickly as possible to his home city and began a campaign on behalf of the Atlas community - collecting and sending warm fabric so that the poor town could sew suitable warm clothing for their families. He raised a large sum of money, but a great obstacle stood in his way. Since the Second World War was raging at the time, most goods were rationed, and many items could not be obtained even at a high price. Among these "luxury items" was material for winter clothing, which was in high demand for military uniforms.
Rabbi Raphael was distressed - he faced what seemed an impossible task of obtaining goods in such times.
As G-d-fearing Jews do when facing "impossible problems," so did Rabbi Raphael - he turned to the Almighty for help, pouring out his heart in supplication through the Sefer Tehillim.
An answer soon came to the sincere and heartfelt prayer that shook the Heavens.
A messenger arrived at the Rabbi's house with an order for him to appear before the governor immediately.
Someone had informed the authorities that the Rabbi was illegally collecting funds, and moreover during wartime, an offense punishable by lengthy imprisonment.
Rabbi Raphael described to the governor the plight of the local residents in the remote Atlas Mountains, telling him of the suffering of innocent children during the harsh winter months. Then he rose from his chair, placed on the table a bag full of money, and, addressing the governor in a firm and confident voice, said: "Your Honor, please note that this entire fundraising campaign was in fact carried out in your name. I have no personal connection to the Atlas Mountains. The only thing connecting me to these people is your reputation, since you govern both districts. As a loyal citizen, I have fulfilled my civic duty by raising a considerable sum for the fund.
I respectfully ask you to do everything in your power and send warm fabric to these unfortunate people."
The governor was moved and impressed by the Chacham's courage, and dropping all the charges against him, decided to take advantage of the mutually beneficial proposal - vanity and ambition won out. Let the politician and governor add the title of benefactor to his credit as well.
He authorized the release of a large shipment of winter clothing, which Rabbi Raphael Baruch Toledano brought to the Atlas Mountains and delivered to the Jewish community.
May the merit of the Tzadik protect the people of Israel!
(translated from the book "A Legacy of Leaders" by Yehuda Azoulai)
