Grave

The Cave of the Hasidic Sages in Tzfat

The Cave of the Hasidic Sages in Tzfat

1. Rabbi Avraham of Ovruch.

Yahrzeit - 12 Kislev;

2. Rabbi Dovid Shlomo Eibeschutz - served as Av Beit Din in Sarki. Author of "Arvei Nachal," a commentary on the Torah, and "Levushei Serad" on the Shulchan Aruch.

Yahrzeit – 22 Cheshvan;

3. Rabbi Aryeh Yehuda Leib ben Shalom of Vlatshisk - a disciple of the Maggid of Mezeritch. Yahrzeit - 23 Tammuz;

4. Miriam bat Nachman and her husband - the daughter of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov.

Rabbi Avraham Dov of Ovruch was born in 1765 in Khmelnik to Nachum of Chernobyl. At the age of 20, Rabbi Avraham Dov succeeded his father as Av Beit Din in Khmelnik, holding this position until 1785, after which he became the Rav of Ovruch. He held this position for 40 years, after which he became the Rav of the much larger city of Zhytomyr, where he attracted many Hasidim. In 1830 he moved to Eretz Yisrael and became the head of the Ashkenazi community of Tzfat.

In 1837, a powerful earthquake struck Tzfat, destroying the city and leaving thousands dead and injured. Minutes before the earthquake, Rabbi Avraham Dov called out to those gathered in his Beit Midrash who were praying Mincha, telling them to come to him and stand by the Aron Kodesh. When the entire building collapsed, only those who stood by the front wall were saved.

After the earthquake, Rabbi Avraham Dov of Ovruch worked tirelessly to rebuild the city and did everything he could to keep its Jewish residents from leaving and moving to Yerushalayim. To calm their fears, he promised that the city of Tzfat would never again experience a powerful earthquake.

In 1840, a terrible plague broke out in Tzfat. When Rabbi Avraham Dov of Ovruch fell ill, he declared that he would be the plague's last victim and that his passing would atone for the entire city. He passed away on the 12th of Kislev, and, just as he had predicted, the plague ceased immediately.

The role of Rav Avraham of Ovruch in the life of Tzfat is described in detail in the book A. Yaari, "Zichronot Eretz Yisrael," Chapter 9.

His book "Bat Ayin" on the Torah is held in high esteem among Hasidic circles. The book was completed while he was still living in Ukraine, but Rabbi Avraham Dov refused to print it until he had edited it in the Holy Land.

The Bat Ayin is buried in the cemetery in Tzfat, in the Cave of the Sages of Vlatshisk, next to Rabbi Dovid Shlomo Eibeschutz. Also buried in the cave are Rabbi Aryeh Leib of Vlatshisk, and the son-in-law and daughter of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov.

(Zissil.com)