19 Tishrei · Yahrzeit
Yahrzeit/Hillula of Rabbi Yosef Moshe Ades
19 Tishrei - Yahrzeit/Hillula of Rabbi Yosef Moshe Ades
He was born on 20 Tishrei 5684/1924 in Jerusalem. His father, Rabbi Yaakov Ades, was Rosh Yeshiva of "Porat Yosef" and also a member of the Jerusalem Beit Din, and his mother was Chaya Esther, daughter of the famous Chacham, Rabbi Ezra Harari-Raful. He was also the grandson of the mekubal Rabbi Avraham Chaim Ades.
For about 40 years Rabbi Yosef taught at the Porat Yosef yeshiva.
He also led a class for adult men in the Beit Yisrael neighborhood of Jerusalem.
For 25 years he taught a morning class at the Kotel.
The Rosh Yeshiva of Mir in Jerusalem, Rabbi Beinish Finkel, said of Rabbi Yosef: "All the books of Mussar cannot compare to the walking 'book of Mussar' that is Rabbi Yosef Ades himself." He added: "If only we could reach the level of Rabbi Yosef's humility when it comes to giving tzedakah."
His day began at 2:30 a.m. with a visit to the mikveh, after which he would go to the Kotel, where he studied Gemara, Halacha, and Mussar, and then prayed vatikin at sunrise.
He always prayed vatikin, summer and winter, in times of peace and in times of war.
Later in the morning he would go to the Porat Yosef yeshiva, where he taught Gemara, and then to the Beit Yisrael neighborhood, where the local residents eagerly awaited hearing words of Torah from his mouth. Some of them attended his shiurim for 40 years.
He would end his day with teachings of Kabbalah from 8 to 9 in the evening. For 30 years he taught Mishnah for two hours every Friday evening and never stopped this practice, regardless of his state of health.
Chacham Ades was especially close with the Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Ezra Attia, who was not widely known until after the passing of Rabbi Yosef's father, Rabbi Yaakov Ades.
At that time Rabbi Ezra comforted him, saying: "From now on, you will call me father, and I will call you son."
In his later years, Rabbi Yosef spoke of the great importance of those who leave this world on Hoshana Rabbah. If people only knew how great the merit of such people is, they would all wish to leave this world on that very day.
And so it was. Chacham Ades merited to have his funeral take place on the eve of Hoshana Rabbah.
On Friday afternoon of Chol HaMoed Sukkot, 19 Tishrei 5753/1992, Rabbi Yosef Moshe Ades passed away at the age of 69. His legacy continues today through his two sons, Rabbi Yaakov Chai Ades and Rabbi Aharon Ades, who founded a yeshiva in Jerusalem in memory of their father called "Maalot Yosef."
The Voice of an Angel
Rabbi Yosef taught Gemara, Halacha, and Mussar for 25 years at the Kotel, before dawn.
Once, one of his students, who regularly attended his classes, disappeared for two weeks. When Rabbi Yosef asked about him, he learned that the student had been badly injured while trying to fix a flat tire on the bus he was driving, and had not regained consciousness for two weeks. Rabbi Yosef came to the hospital, and upon seeing his student, called out to him: "Refael."
He awoke at the sound of his teacher's voice, and Rabbi Yosef said: "You will not die. You will live!"
The student himself told this story to Rabbi Yosef's family during his shiva, adding: "When I heard Rabbi Yosef's voice, it was as if a malach [angel] whispered in my ear: 'Wake up, Refael.' And so I did."
Caring for a Widow, Even After Death
Rav Yosef's neighbor was an elderly, lonely, childless widow. One day she came to the Chacham and asked: "Rabbi, please pray that I should die." He clearly did not agree with her request, and instead gave her a new life, full of hope and fulfillment. From that day on, she was a regular Shabbat guest in his home, where she could hear him make Kiddush and speak about the weekly Torah portion.
Rabbi Yosef even changed his schedule and came home earlier just to make Kiddush for her sake. On that bitter night when the Chacham was taken from this world - Hoshana Rabbah 5753/1992 - she waited for those returning from the funeral. When she saw them approaching, she cried out bitterly: "Who will make Kiddush for me now? Who will tell me divrei Torah on Shabbat?"
Overcome with grief, she begged Rabbi Yosef to take her with him to the World to Come, for life was no longer worth living for her without him. Indeed, just a few days later, after the Sukkot holidays, her soul departed this world. Part of the large crowd that had gathered at Rabbi Yosef's house to comfort the mourners made their way to her home and prayed for the elevation of her soul. Thus Rabbi Yosef continued to care for others even after his own passing.
Gemilut Chasadim
Rabbi Yosef Ades once became involved in a shidduch and was chosen to mediate the financial arrangements between the parents. The parents agreed to split the expenses of the young couple, and the Chacham suggested a figure of $10,000, which would allow the couple to live comfortably. The bride's father agreed, but the groom's father initially refused, stating that he simply could not afford such a sum. Rabbi Yosef insisted, and the father eventually agreed, sealing the deal. Later, the father asked Rabbi Ades why he had insisted so firmly on this sum, knowing full well that he could not afford it, to which the Chacham replied: "The other side can easily afford their share. I will give you $5,000, and the young couple will end up with $10,000."
He voluntarily donated this enormous sum out of his own pocket for the sake of the young bride and groom, while preserving the father's honor!
May the merit of the tzadik protect our people!
(Based on the book "A Legacy of Leaders" by Yehuda Azoulay)