Yishmael

Rabbi Yishmael - Baal HaBraytot Yahrzeit - Burial place - Parod, Galilee Rabbi Yishmael (referred to in the Mishnah simply as "Rabbi Yishmael"). He came from a distinguished family of Kohanim – his grandfather, also named Rabbi Yishmael, was the Kohen Gadol in the Temple - Rabbi Yishmael ben Elisha Kohen HaGadol. (Seder HaDorot). He systematized the methods of Torah interpretation, formulating the "13 principles of hermeneutics," which make up the famous Baraita of Rabbi Yishmael, included in the daily morning prayer service. He also established a principle of fundamental importance for the correct understanding of the Torah: "There is no earlier or later in the Torah" – meaning its narrative does not necessarily follow the chronological order of events. In the Siddur, in the Shacharit prayer, we find the passage: "Rabbi Yishmael omer: bishlosh esreh middot haTorah nidreshet..." It was Rabbi Yishmael who systematized the methods of Torah interpretation, formulating the "13 principles of hermeneutics," which make up the famous Baraita of Rabbi Yishmael, included in the daily morning prayer service. He also established a principle of fundamental importance for the correct understanding of the Torah: "There is no earlier or later in the Torah" – meaning its narrative does not necessarily follow the chronological order of events.  

A Great Segula from Rav Yitzchak Batzri

One should travel to Parod (near Meron) to the resting place of Rabbi Yishmael Baal HaBraytot and pray for a shidduch (not to be confused with Rabbi Yishmael Kohen HaGadol, buried in Sajur (near Karmiel)). Since in the history of the Jewish people only Rabbi Yishmael Baal HaBraytot (along with Shaul HaMelech) showed such extraordinary concern for the marriage of young women, his resting place is one of the most powerful places to pray for a shidduch. The Mishnah tells the following story: "There was a case of a man who made a vow not to benefit from his sister's daughter, because he did not want to marry her. And she was brought to the house of Rabbi Yishmael, and he beautified her. When she was later brought before the one who had made the vow, Rabbi Yishmael said to him: 'My son, did you vow not to benefit from this woman?' He answered him: 'No.' And Rabbi Yishmael permitted him to marry her, proving that the vow had been made in error. At that moment Rabbi Yishmael wept and said: 'The daughters of Israel are beautiful, but poverty makes them unattractive.' It is further told that this young woman had a false tooth [shen tota'at] which disfigured her, and Rabbi Yishmael had a gold tooth made for her at his own expense, thereby beautifying her. When Rabbi Yishmael passed away, one eulogizer began his eulogy thus: 'Daughters of Israel, weep for Rabbi Yishmael, who clothed you.' And it is likewise said of Shaul, who also cared for the wellbeing of the daughters of Israel: 'Daughters of Israel, weep over Shaul, who clothed you in scarlet and finery, who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel.' (2 Samuel 1:24) Rav Batzri tells a true story about a woman who performed this segula and immediately merited a shidduch.   May the merit of the tzadik protect Am Yisrael!   (Based on a lesson by Gaon Yitzchak Batzri)