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Сила Теилим

21 Cheshvan · Yahrzeit

Rabbi David ben Zimra - Radbaz (teacher of the Arizal)

Rabbi David ben Shlomo ibn Abi Zimra - Radbaz (teacher of the Arizal) Yahrzeit - 21 Cheshvan Resting place - Tzfat
The Radbaz, known as the teacher of the Arizal, was born in Spain in 1479.
In 1492, when he was 13 years old, as a result of the expulsion of the Jews from Spain, he and his family moved to Fez (Morocco), and later to Tzfat, where he studied under Chacham Yosef Saragossi, Chacham Levi ben Habib, and Rabbi Yosef Taitatzak.
Later, the Radbaz left Jerusalem for Egypt, where he was appointed head of the rabbinical court.
He earned his living through trade, and his success allowed him to establish connections with government officials, which he used to support Torah scholars.
In 1517, when the Ottomans conquered Egypt, Chacham David ben Zimra was chosen as the leader of the Egyptian Jewish community. His outstanding student was Rabbi Betzalel Ashkenazi, author of the "Shitah Mekubetzet" on the Talmud.
Another famous student of his Beit Midrash was the Arizal.
In 1553, Chacham David ben Zimra returned to the Land of Israel and settled in Tzfat.
Chacham David ben Zimra established the calendar system based on the date of the Creation of the World, which we still use today.
Two of his statements are well known and still considered accurate regarding the verse: "Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moshe because of the Cushite woman he had married." The Radbaz explained that "she was of the seed of Dan, who dwelt in the mountains of Cush."
He also ruled that the Holy of Holies is located beneath the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount.
Chacham David ben Zimra passed away on 21 Cheshvan 5333 (1573) and is buried in the ancient cemetery of Tzfat.
His halachic responsa were collected in "Radbaz Responsa" and "Divrei David."
His book "Yakar Tiferet" contains a commentary on Maimonides;
His "Metzudat David" explains the reasons for the mitzvot.
"Michtav le-David" is a commentary on "Shir HaShirim";
and "Magen David" is a Kabbalah book that explains the letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The Radbaz's Talmudic principles appear in Chacham Avraham Akara's book "Meharerei Nemeirim."
May the merit of the tzadik protect Am Yisrael!
 
Pilgrimage site: Grave: Radbaz