Rabbi Yaakov Chaim Israel Refael Alfiya

Rabbi Yaakov Chaim Israel Refael ben Yitzchak Alfiya (1862-1915) - "Riach le-Yitzchak" - kabbalist and master of the revealed Torah, also known as "the Rich."   Yahrzeit - 23 Shevat Resting place - Har HaZeitim, Jerusalem   He was born in Aleppo, Syria, to Rabbi Yitzchak and Sarah, who was a direct descendant of King David. His father was born in Israel in 1677 - he was a devout chassid. He was so careful about the kashrut of meat that he would slaughter it only himself and personally appoint the local butchers, and Rabbi Mordechai Levton called him "the true butcher." Rabbi Yaakov Chaim was so proficient in both the revealed and hidden Torah, and shared his knowledge with such love, that crowds would gather at his lectures to hear the many pearls of wisdom from his mouth. Later he immigrated to Israel together with his father and his sons: Rabbi Yitzchak (Baal HaKuntres Yechieli), Rabbi Yeshaya Shaul, and Rabbi Mordechai Moshe, and he settled in Jerusalem, where he studied at the kabbalistic yeshiva "Beit El." He lived his entire life in great modesty and humility. This is well expressed in the will he wrote, in which he instructed his sons that after his death they should not say a single word in his praise, but only recount all the sufferings he endured in his lifetime, and that would be enough to arouse G-d's mercy toward him. They were not to hold lavish feasts in his memory, but rather seat scholars who would study Mishnah for the elevation of his soul, paying them from the money he left behind. He also instructed his sons not to reveal any of his good deeds, because "there is no goodness except that which is hidden from the eye." His tombstone reads: "...G-d chose Yaakov, called him soon, he had many years of life and all of them were spent in Torah; he taught Torah in Israel and the faith of his father, the Alfiya family, a family of glory, and his son Yitzchak cried out a great and bitter cry - my father, to whom Sarah bore a crown and a crown, a rabbi distinguished by fear of Heaven and purity..." He was a master of the hidden Torah, a mekubal, who left behind a whole generation of kabbalists. One of his students was the Mekubal Shalom Hadaya, who for many years headed the kabbalistic yeshiva "Beit El." Already at an advanced age, Rabbi Alfiya immigrated from Syria to Israel and settled in Jerusalem. His principal work is "Riach le-Yitzchak."   Taanit Dibbur Few people know that it was actually his father, the Mekubal Rabbi Yitzchak Alfiya, who in the previous century introduced the practice - so popular among the Jewish people - known as "Taanit Dibbur" (a "fast of speech") - refraining from empty and mundane conversation, which is a very powerful spiritual tool for purification and atonement. He is the author of the well-known and often-commented-upon book שיח יצחק "Siach Yitzchak" (Yitzchak's conversation). Read more here: https://silatehilim.com/таанит-дибур-и-почему-основное-исправ/     Segula with "Patach Eliyahu" Before his passing, Rabbi Yaakov Chaim Israel Refael Alfiya promised that whoever, on his hillula, 23 Shevat, recites "Patach Eliyahu" and lights a candle for his soul, and asks for one single request, he will pray for that person personally and intercede for him above. - Light a candle le-Kavod HaTzadik, set aside tzedakah while saying: "I am now reciting "Patach Eliyahu" le-Kavod Rabbi Yaakov Chaim Israel Refael ben Yitzchak ve-Sara Alfiya"; - Recite the prayer "Patach Eliyahu"; - Then make one request, that the tzadik intercede for you before Ha-Shem - (state your name and your mother's name) and, with G-d's help, an answer to your prayer will come.   The full transliteration and translation text is here: https://silatehilim.com/патах-элиягу/   You can listen to "Patach Eliyahu" in Aramaic here: [embed]https://soundcloud.com/dailyzohar/patach-eliyahu-1[/embed]   May the merit of the tzadik protect our people! (https://dailyzohar.com/tzadikim/287-Rabbi-Yaakov-Chaim-Israel-Refael-Alfiya)