Grave

Ben Tzion Abba Shaul

Rosh Yeshiva of Porat Yosef

Rabbi Ben Tzion Abba Shaul - Rosh Yeshiva of Porat Yosef

Yahrzeit - 19 Tammuz;

Resting place - Sanhedria;

The C-section and why they kiss the Rav's hand

Rabbi Abba Shaul was known for giving blessings that were quickly fulfilled. Once, a woman who had already had three consecutive C-sections was told that her next child would also have to be delivered by C-section. She went to Abba Shaul and demanded: "I will not leave until the Rav guarantees me that I will have a natural birth."

He agreed. After the woman left, Abba Shaul's brother asked him, "How can you guarantee that?"

He said: "I can't guarantee anything - but what was I supposed to do? She wouldn't leave!"

The woman gave birth naturally. When her husband came to the synagogue to announce the "miracle," Abba Shaul complained: "They're turning me into an Admor."

When his shamash asked why his blessing came true, Abba Shaul said: "If you love everyone in Klal Yisrael, you can do it too."

To someone else he said: "Ha-Shem told Avraham: 'I will bless those who bless you.'

When people come to me, they kiss my hand. By doing this, they are blessing me. If someone blesses a Jew, they will be blessed."

Every year, the Yodei Bina Yeshiva marks the yahrzeit of Ben Tzion Abba Shaul with great fanfare.

Rabbi Abba Shaul was highly proficient in Kabbalah.

However, in the 1960s, seeing that knowledge of Kabbalah was declining, he gathered a group of kabbalists and founded the Emet Ve-Shalom Yeshiva for studying Kabbalah at night.

Once a year, on the yahrzeit of the Rashash, he would join the group of kabbalists and display all his knowledge.

In his sefer "Sheilot U-Teshuvot Or Le-Tzion," he provides answers to all the most difficult halachic questions - he is frequently quoted by Rav Ovadia Yosef, who remained his good friend.

He was a mohel his entire life - for the last 15 years of his life, his right hand was paralyzed.

May the merit of the tzadikim protect our people!

(Tzadikim.com)