Grave

Yitzchak Delia

Marrakesh

Rabbi Yitzchak ben Meir Delia was a Sephardic rabbi - Av Beit Din of Marrakesh, a kabbalist and head of the Yeshiva and community of the exiles from Spain (approximately 1635 - 1711). Yahrzeit - Av Burial place - Marrakesh His students were Rabbi Shlomo Amar, Rabbi Avraham Azulai, Rav Mordechai Attia, Rav Yaakov ibn Tzur. According to his student, Rav Mordechai Attia, Rabbi Yitzchak headed the most important yeshiva in Marrakesh of that era, together with two of his students: Rabbi Shlomo Amar and Rabbi Avraham Azulai. The first Jews deported from Spain who arrived in Marrakesh differed from the local Jews in their dress and customs. When they asked to pray in the synagogue of the local residents, named after Rabbi Mordechai Ben-Attar in the ancient Mellah of Marrakesh, the locals did not accept them on the grounds that their style of prayer was different. After prolonged friction between the two camps, the deportees rose up under the leadership of Rabbi Yitzchak Delia and built a synagogue for themselves. The synagogue "Salat El Azama" ("Synagogue of the Expelled") is located inside a large courtyard building, on the second floor of which were rooms for children's Torah study. Today a Muslim family lives in the complex, guarding the site. According to tradition among the Jews of Marrakesh, Rabbi Yitzchak Delia met with Rabbi Yosef Karo, author of the Shulchan Aruch, and this meeting is even mentioned at the resting place of Rabbi Delia. During the meeting they disagreed on several matters, including the consumption of meat. Rabbi Yitzchak stood by his opinion, and this custom is preserved in the community to this day. Another halacha that was disputed between them concerned the ruling of the Shulchan Aruch not to recite Chatzi Kaddish after the reading of the Torah scroll on Shabbat. The custom of Rabbi Yitzchak Delia, preserved to this day, is to recite Chatzi Kaddish. The Rambam's Commentaries The sages of Marrakesh pass down a story connected with Rabbi Yosef Karo in Morocco. Before he moved to the Land of Israel, he stayed for a time in Morocco. Rabbi Yosef Ben Naim tells of a meeting between Rabbi Shlomo Tamtzut and Rabbi Yosef Karo - when Rabbi Shlomo was a small boy, Maran Rabbi Yosef Karo came to them in Marrakesh, and he was the equal of their teacher, Moreinu Rabbeinu Yitzchak Delia. Together with other rabbis of Morocco they studied the Rambam's commentaries, and all together interpreted and pondered verse by verse. And once there was an interpretation that no one understood, and Maran urged them to think it through. Little Shlomo went to the Beit Midrash, opened the book with the Rambam's commentary on the matter the rabbis were pondering, and since he understood nothing, began to cry, and at that moment the Beit Midrash filled with Light, and the Rambam himself suddenly appeared before him and said: "I am the Rambam, and the meaning of this teaching is such-and-such." And little Shlomo went to the Chachamim who were still sitting over this commentary, and revealed the meaning to them. And Maran Yosef Karo approved, and said that this youth deserved to become a rabbi. Moreinu ve-Rabbeinu Yitzchak Delia took this to heart, and Maran did not sense anything - he did not notice that he had been offended. When Rabbi Shlomo went to the kollel and told Maran his opinion, that Rabbi Yitzchak Delia had been offended, Maran Yosef Karo said that he would go to Moreinu and ask his forgiveness. When Maran entered the courtyard of Rabbi Yitzchak Delia, he first went to the well to wash his hands, and wanted to draw water from the well, when suddenly the water rose up by itself to Maran. Seeing this holiness and greatness of Maran, Rabbi Yitzchak Delia hurried out to meet him and receive him, and Rabbi Yitzchak said to Maran: just now the Rambam appeared to me and said: "Why are you so sad because of the interpretation of the boy Shlomo Tamtzut? It was I who appeared to him and revealed my commentary." (From a trip to the Kivrei Tzadikim in Morocco)