BS"D * *Todays Yahrtzeits*   👇 * . Sunday yaurtzit the 4th of Shevat HaRav Yisrael Abuchatzera, zt"l, the great Sephardic sage and kabbalist known as the “Baba Sali” (1889 or 1890 - 5744 / 1984). Born on Rosh Hashanah of 5650/1889 in Tafillalt, Morocco to the llustrious Abuchatzera family, Rabbinic leaders of the Moroccan city of Tafilalet for over a century. The young Rav Yisrael observed how his father, Rav Masoud, would lock himself in an attic for hours, deep in study of both the revealed and hidden Torah. His brother Rav Dovid, 24 years his senior, never slept in a bed; rather, he would doze off a bit at the table, over his sefer. Unlike most children his age, the young Rav Yisrael never longed for toys or sweets. All he wanted was a new siddur. He learned to daven with great devotion. After his bar mitzvah, he went on to master Shas with many Rishonim and became expert in such areas as shechitah, milah and safrut. From a young age he was renowned as a sage, miracle maker and master kabbalist. Most of Moroccan Jewry began emigrating to Eretz Yisrael after 1948. Rav Yisrael’s brother Rav Yitzchak founded a kehillah in Ramle, and urged Rav Yisrael to share the challenge of reorienting Moroccan Jewry to their new environment. In Elul 5711 / 1951, Rav Yisrael boarded a ship for Eretz Yisrael, which arrived on Erev Rosh Hashanah at the Haifa port. Rav Yisrael went to Yerushalayim, where he intended to settle. He was deeply pained by the spiritual condition of Yerushalayim at that time. After much thought, he decided to leave Eretz Yisrael. At first, he went to France. In 5713 / 1953 he decided to return to Tafilalet, which had a then-stable government. Rav Yisrael lived near his son, Rav Meir, who served as the regional Rabbi and Dayan. In 5723 / 1963 Rav Yisrael turned 73, the age when both his father and grandfather were niftar. That year Rav Yisrael did not travel, so that if he was niftar he could be buried alongside them in Tafilalet, in accordance with Chazal’s teaching that when a man reaches the life span of his father, he should prepare himself for death. But the year passed and Rav Yisrael was healthy and vigorous. In 5724 / 1964 he moved back to Eretz Yisrael eventually settling in the small southern Negev development town he made famous, Netivot which has a largely Moroccan-Jewish population From the moment Rav Yisrael arrived in Netivot, it became a magnet for people in need of a tzaddik’s wise counsel, blessings, and in many cases, miracles. The Baba Sali had a profound impact on Netivot and its surrounding settlements. Many residents of these towns changed their lifestyle and began to observe mitzvot. Stories abound of his supernatural abilities -- if someone complained about a physical malady, he would prescribe a spiritual action to rectify it. If he was presented with money as a gift, he could identify if it was earned in a "kosher" way or not. He had elevated beyond the physical to the extent that he would eat only small morsels each day. His graveside in Netivot has become a holy site visited by thousands annually. Rav Yisrael had seen Rav Meir as his replacement, to continue the family tradition. After Rav Meir’s death on Chol Hamoed Pesach 5743 / 1983, it was clear that Rav Yisrael was not well. He was rarely able to receive the public and would often remain in bed. On 4 Shvat 5744/1984, he returned his pure soul to its Maker. Asher ben Yaakov Avinu (1562-1439 B.C.E.). (Others 2 Shvat). HaRav Yisrael Charif from Stanov, zt"l, author of Tiferet Yisrael, disciple of the Baal Shem Tov. (1781) HaRav Moshe Leib of Sassov, zt"l, (1745 - 5567 / 1807). Moshe Leib was a student of R' Shmuel Shmelke of Nickolsburg, R' Dov Ber (the Maggid of Mezritch), and R' Elimelech of Liszhensk. His teachings are contained in Likutei RaMal, Torat ReMaL Hashalem, and Chidushei RaMal. HaRav Avraham Hakohen Katz of Kalisk, zt"l, (5570 / 1810). Harav Avraham Hakohen was born in Kalisk, Lithuania, to Harav Alexander, a staunch disciple of the Vilna Gaon. He was recognized as a genius and talmid chacham already in his youth. Like his father, Reb Avraham was a follower of the Gaon. For seven years Reb Avraham sat in an attic in Kalisk, immersed in Torah and avodat Hashem, totally oblivious to the outside world. One day a local Yid burst into Reb Avraham’s secluded room and shouted, “How can you sit there in total isolation? Travel to Mezritch to seek out the great light of the Maggid! The Maggid explains the passuk, ‘…the earth is full of Your possessions’ (Tehillim 104:24), as meaning that the earth is full of means of acquiring G-dliness and closeness to Hashem.” “Is that what he said?” responded Reb Avraham. Electrified, he leaped out of his window and made his way to Mezritch. Reb Avraham became a fervent and devoted Chassid of the Rebbe Reb Ber, the Maggid of Mezritch. Upon his return from Mezritch, he gathered a group of young talmidei chachamim and taught them the teachings of his Rebbe, the Maggid. He also arranged a program of avodat Hashem for them that featured fervent tefillot and rejection of their own egos egos. He studied with these disciples for two years. He also taught his Chassidim about the importance of ahavat Yisrael, and the good that one achieves through it. After the Maggid’s petirah, Harav Avraham attached himself to Harav Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk, the Pri Haaretz. The best-known historic Chassidic aliyah to Eretz Yisrael was the one led by Reb Mendel Vitebsker, Reb Avraham Kalisker and Harav Yisrael of Plotz, with hundreds of their Chassidim. The entourage reached Eretz Yisrael on 5 Elul 5537/1777. At first they settled in the holy city of Tzfat, but they were obliged to leave the city in 5543/1783. The majority moved to Teveria. After an illness of a few months, Reb Mendel Vitebsker was niftar on Rosh Chodesh Iyar 5548/1788. He was buried in Teveria, in the section of the beit hakevarot that came to be designated for the talmidim of the Baal Shem Tov. After the petirah of Reb Mendel Vitebsker, Reb Avraham was named Rebbe of the Chassidic yishuv in Eretz Yisrael. Reb Avraham was niftar on 4 Shvat 5570/1810, and buried in Teveria, near the kever of Reb Mendel Vitebsker. Letters of Harav Avraham are printed in the sefer Pri Haaretz. HaRav Dovid of Brod, zt"l, (5576 / 1816). HaRav Menachem Nachum Twersky, zt"l, of Trisk-Brisk, (5589 / 1829 - 5647 / 1887) . Harav Menachem Nachum Twersky was the oldest son of Harav Avraham, the Trisker Maggid, who was the son of Harav Mordechai of Chernobyl, the Chernobyler Maggid. He was born on 22 Nissan, Acharon shel Pesach, 5589/1829. He was named for his great-grandfather, the Meor Einayim of Chernobyl. He married the daughter of his uncle, Harav Dovid of Tolna. Reb Menachem Nachum founded his own court during the lifetime of his father, in Brisk. He was on good terms with all residents of the city (many of whom were misnagdim); all held Reb Menachem Nachum in the highest esteem. Reb Menachem Nachum was known as one of the leading tzaddikim of his generation and was especially noted for his mofsim; thousands traveled to his court, seeking his brachot and yeshuot. Reb Menachem Nachum was niftar on 4 Shvat 5647/1887 at the age of 58. He predeceased his father, who was niftar about two years later, on 2 Tammuz 5649/1889. HaRav Avraham Eliezer Mintzberg, zt"l, Rav of Yuzefov, (5664 / 1904). HaRav Yechiel Yaakov Weinberg, author of Seridei Aish, zt"l, (1885 - 5726 / 1966). A student of the Mir and Slabodka yeshivot. When World War 1 broke out he went to Germany and studied at the university of Giessen, receiving a Ph.D. for a thesis on the masorectic text. He subsequently taught and eventually became rector of the Berlin Rabbinical Seminary founded by Rabbi Ezriel Hildeshimer. HaRav Yaakov Elazar Friedman, zt"l, (2002), son of Rav Shlomo Zalman Friedman, Rav of Rakoshegy, Hungary. He was a descendent of the Shaarei Torah, Shemen Rokeach, Yeriat Shlomo, Ponim Meirot, Chacham Tzvi, Bach, Tosfot Yom Tov, Maharshal, and Levush .