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Сила Теилим

8 Adar · Yahrzeit

Rabbi Yosef Yaavetz

Rabbi Yosef ben Chaim ha-Chasid Yaavetz (1493), known as the "Chasid Yaavetz" Yahrzeit - 8 Adar   Rabbi Yaavetz was born in Spain and left during the expulsion of 1492. He eventually settled in Mantua, Italy, where he took an honored place in the community. He was deeply occupied with the meaning of the Spanish expulsion and why it happened, and wrote an entire treatise, "Or ha-Chaim," in which he gave his interpretation. According to Rabbi Yaavetz, the catastrophe occurred because the Spanish Jews had become absorbed in philosophy and secular knowledge, which became their central focus, while Torah and mitzvot were no longer the main purpose of their lives. He was not against knowledge as such, but rather against the fact that it displaced Torah and mitzvot in importance. He approvingly quotes Rabbi Hai Gaon: "Those who tell you that you will attain knowledge of Torah through philosophy - do not listen to them, and know that they have distorted the truth, for you will not find fear of sin, zeal, humility, and holiness except among those who are occupied with Mishnah and Talmud." He studied Maimonides' "Guide" together with Abarbanel, whom he considered the finest interpreter of that work, but states that after Abarbanel gave an excellent explanation of the "Guide," he added: "This is the meaning of Rabbeinu Moshe, but not the intention of Moshe Rabbeinu." Rabbi Yaavetz became increasingly interested in Kabbalah and urged Rabbi Yehuda Chayat, who had been expelled from Lisbon and suffered terribly before reaching Mantua, to write a classic kabbalistic commentary. According to Rabbi Yaavetz, there are only three foundations of faith, all of which derive from the verse "I shall be that which I shall be" (Exodus 3:14) - Creation of the world, Providence and Divine Unity, and Redemption. He wrote Chasdei Hashem, Ma'amar ha-Achdut, and Yesod ha-Emunah. He also wrote commentaries on Tehillim and on Pirkei Avot. The latter work remains extremely popular to this day. The great Chassidic sage Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech of Dinov wrote an extensive commentary, "Ma'ayan Ganim," on Or ha-Chaim. In addition to the above-mentioned printed works, Rabbi Yaavetz left behind many unpublished manuscripts. May the merit of the tzadik protect Am Yisrael!
Pilgrimage site: Grave: Yaavetz