Avraham Abitbol

Rabbi Avraham ben Shlomo Abitbol

Rabbi Avraham Abitbol was born to the tzadik Rabbi Shlomo Abitbol, who composed a number of piyutim included in the book "Ayira HaShachar."

In the city of Marrakesh there is a custom that on the day a tractate is completed, the one finishing it reads it through to the very end, and before reciting the Kaddish, begins reading a new tractate - some even pass around the scent of besamim (fragrant spices) to smell between the two tractates. Afterward, at the meal, they would sing a sacred poem composed by Rabbi Shlomo Abitbol - father of the Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Avraham Abitbol.

The opening stanza: "Beautiful and mysterious Torah, pure, pleasant - who can penetrate deeper into your secret..."

When the Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Avraham Abitbol gave a lesson at the Beit Midrash La-Azma, the whole city would rush to catch every word - even the wealthy of the city took part in the lessons, which lasted three to four hours, and the entire lesson was given without any book at all; indeed, the rabbi was known as the "Aron Sefarim" (bookcase) for his ability to recite many books by heart.

The Greatness of the Man

Even before dawn, the Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Avraham Abitbol was already in the Beit Midrash, and afterward the student Levi Nachmani would arrive together with his friend Meir Levi. When the student Nachmani entered, the rabbi would rise to his full height, and when asked why he stood up, he answered: "He is indeed young in years, but know that the wisdom of Torah dwelling within him is the wisdom of elders - so why should it surprise you that I stand before an elder?"

Rabbi Avraham Abitbol examined his student in the laws of shechita - Rav Chaim Biton, rabbi of the city of Melilla in Spanish Morocco, author of the book "Lev Chaim," who received his shechita certification at the age of 10, as attested in the preface to the book "Lev Chaim."

When Rabbi Avraham was asked a halachic question, he would briefly cite the Talmud and answer that the word of G-d is halacha; this was exactly the way the sage of the city of Marrakesh, Rav David Rosilio, conducted himself as well.

Rabat

Later, Rabbi Avraham visited the city of Rabat and entered the Beit Midrash of Gaon Rabbi Raphael Ankawa, and saw that the sages there were struggling with a certain question. He resolved the question for them and explained it in several different ways.

Upon learning of this, Rabbi Raphael Ankawa decided to welcome him with a lavish reception; he listened to the students describe the difficulty of the question, and then listened to Rabbi Abitbol, and he was so pleased that he praised him greatly.

Rav Avraham taught not only in Marrakesh - for six years he also spread Torah in other cities, and in the city of Ouazzane he founded a yeshiva.

The Poor of His City

It is told that for several years he moved to a town near Rish, where Spanish was spoken; he was appointed rabbi of the town, taught Torah, and established two charity tables there.

His door was open to all; the poor from the villages of southern Morocco would come to his home to receive charity and sustenance, and he gave generously to everyone.

After six years, the rabbi decided that he missed the atmosphere of a city of Torah, and returned to Marrakesh.

Once, he and his wife were walking down a street where they had once lived, where there was a scholar who sold charcoal and would never let go of his book, even when asked the price of his goods; the rabbi said to his wife, "I have missed this for six years."

He was a genius in learning, and when a position opened for a judge on the court, our rabbi was asked to become a member of the court; he declined the offer and continued his studies.

The rabbi was well versed in all communal affairs; the communal council consulted with him more than once, and he had a brilliant gift for resolving the most difficult questions simply and clearly.

Once, after the evening prayer of Yom Kippur, Rabbi Avraham Chafuta was walking down one of the streets of Marrakesh, and coming toward him was the brilliant Rabbi Avraham Abitbol.

The Rosh Yeshiva approached the rabbi, and upon seeing the sons of Cheinik and Chakim, who were ten years old, said: "Is this your son? A blessing that he will grow up for the glory of the people of Israel" (Sansan LeYair).

He took part in the brit milah of the son of his friend Rabbi David Azoulay, and during the seudat mitzvah he gave out four bottles of wine; he was asked, "During the World War, where did you find wine?" And he answered: "They restored everything in honor of the prophet Eliyahu and Moreinu VeRabbeinu - Rabbi Amram Azoulay."

When the rabbi walked through the marketplace, every shopkeeper knew that they could ask him any question and receive an answer from the Gemara, Rashi, or Tosafot.