Sipurei Tzadikim – Rabbi Aharon Harari-Rafoul

Sipurei Tzadikim – Rabbi Aharon Harari-Rafoul

The kabbalist Rabbi Aharon Harari-Rafoul and his wife Rachel endured a difficult life. As a young man, shortly after his wedding, he was forced to flee to Bukhara for six long years to avoid being drafted into the Turkish army. When he returned home, he discovered that both of his children had died of hunger. After moving to the Holy City, Rabbi Aharon once again took up a rabbinic position. Among his many responsibilities was serving the great Jerusalem kabbalist, Saba Kadisha of Constantinople—Rabbi Shlomo Eliezer Alfandri. Years passed. Six daughters were born into the Harari-Rafoul family. Rachel dreamed of having a son, so that she could help her husband fulfill the mitzvah of “pru u'rvu” and bring Torah scholars into the world. Rachel was a pious woman with profound emunah. The daughter of the great kabbalist Rabbi Avraham Ades and the wife of the no less outstanding Rabbi Aharon Harari-Rafoul, she never complained about anything; she lived solely by faith. A Glass of Water Whenever Rachel encountered a problem, she would immediately sit down and drink a glass of water. One of her daughters asked her why she did this. Rachel explained that before drinking the water, she recited the blessing: “Shehakol nihyah bidvaro”—(by whose word everything came into being). As she recited the berachah, she remembered that if everything was created by Him—including her problems—then only He could bring about a solution to those problems. All that was needed was to turn to the Creator. This always strengthened her emunah (faith). She asked her husband to request a berachah from the great Saba Kadisha for the birth of a son, but her husband could not bring himself to disturb such an important man. One morning, when Rabbi Aharon went to the Chacham’s home as usual, Rachel quietly followed him. Saba Kadisha did not usually receive women, and when he saw a woman enter the room, he turned to Rabbi Aharon and asked sharply, “Who is this?” Rabbi Aharon looked at Rachel in astonishment and quietly told the Chacham that she was his wife. “And what does she want?” Saba Kadisha asked. Hesitantly, Rabbi Aharon explained that his wife had come to ask for a berachah for the birth of a son. Saba Kadisha turned his penetrating gaze toward Rabbi Aharon. “Why have you never asked yourself?” He then gave the blessing Rachel had longed for. A year later, Rachel and Rabbi Aharon Harari-Rafoul’s newborn son was named Avraham Shlomo: Avraham, in honor of Rachel’s father, the great Rabbi Avraham Ades, and Shlomo, in honor of Rabbi Shlomo Eliezer Alfandri, Saba Kadisha of Constantinople. Another son was born a year later. Thus, Rachel’s faith—the faith of the wife and daughter of great Chachamim, whose berachot brought happiness to many Jewish families—brought her the joy of motherhood, all through her emunah.   Of interest on this topic: Borei Nefashot – a segula for prosperity according to the Or HaChaim   Amen to “Borei Nefashot” — a segula for having children