The Baba Sali

Rabbi Israel Abuchatzeira known as The Baba Sali was born on 1 Tishrei 5650 in the city of Rissani, Morocco to his father Rabbi Masoud Abuchatzeira, son of Rabbi Yaakov Abuchatzeira, author of the 'Abir Yaakov'.

After the murder of his uncle Rabbi David Abuchatzeira HY"D, he began serving as rabbi and head of the rabbinical court in the city of Erfoud, Morocco. During these years, the Rebbe's shliach to Morocco, Rabbi Shlomo Matusof, arrived in Erfoud and began the connection between Chabad and the Baba Sali, and together they established Chabad institutions in Erfoud.

In 5711 (1951) the Baba Sali made aliyah to Eretz Hakodesh. The Rebbe wrote him unique letters. In a later period, he returned to Morocco and at times stayed in France, where he would also visit the Chabad yeshiva in Brunoy, France. In 5724 (1964) he returned to Eretz Hakodesh and initially settled in Yavne, which he left due to a dismissive comment made by the head of the Lithuanian kollel in the city towards the Baal Shem Tov. He then moved to Netivot.

The Baba Sali was known as a great holy kabbalist tzaddik who had open ruach hakodesh and was a great miracle worker who brought about salvations and wonders completely above nature. Additionally, he was known as a tremendous genius in both nigleh and nistar.

His daughter Esther (A"H) married Rabbi Yashar Edrei, the Rebbe's shliach and director of Chabad institutions in Netivot, who took part in his connections with the Rebbe.

Partner in Establishing Chabad Institutions in Erfoud[edit | edit source]

A close connection formed between the Baba Sali and his son the Baba Meir with the Rebbe's shliach to Morocco Rabbi Shlomo Matusof, and thus began the connection between the Baba Sali, Chabad and the Rebbe. The connection was rooted in the initial establishment of institutions in the city of Erfoud where the Baba Sali served as rabbi and head of the rabbinical court. When Rabbi Matusof arrived in Erfoud to establish a yeshiva there, the Baba Sali was a full and active partner in establishing the institutions.

During the period when the yeshiva was established, Rabbi Matusof worked to create a connection between the Baba Sali and the Rebbe. In the following years, Rabbi Matusof maintained a strong connection with the Baba Sali, his son the Baba Meir, and other family members^[1].

The beginning of the Baba Sali's connection with Chabad and the Rebbe is described in the book History of Chabad in Morocco: "In the month of Iyar 5711 (1951), Rabbi Shlomo Matusof arrived in Erfoud and established a Talmud Torah there with the assistance of the Baba Sali. In the following period, they worked together to expand the Talmud Torah and to save Jewish children from studying in the French school where they only learned foreign studies. A continuous correspondence developed between Rabbi Matusof and the Baba Sali, and sometimes when Rabbi Matusof would travel on his journeys and reach distant Erfoud, he would meet with the Baba Sali and together they continued to work for the Jews of the community in general and their children in particular^[2]."

During his visits to Erfoud, Rabbi Matusof stayed in the Baba Sali's home, where Rabbi Matusof together with Rabbi Meir Abuchatzeira - the Baba Meir - would sit at night and discuss Torah and chassidus. Sometimes the Baba Sali, Baba Meir and Rabbi Shlomo Matusof would converse together. In these conversations, they also discussed differences between Sephardim and Ashkenazim in customs based on Kabbalah, about the Tanya, and more^[3].

Connections with the Rebbe[edit | edit source]

He merited to maintain correspondence with the Rebbe, parts of which were later printed in Igros Kodesh.

The Rebbe Encourages Him to Save the Education of Morocco's Children[edit | edit source]

Several months after the Baba Sali arrived in Eretz Hakodesh, the Rebbe sent him - on 26 Teves 5712 - a letter containing words of blessing and encouragement to work with the Sephardic community. At the beginning of the letter, the Rebbe addresses the Baba Sali with rare titles, one of which is "chad mib'nei aliyah" which means a complete tzaddik according to Tanya: "Pillar of Torah, luminous light, one of the elevated ones, from his head above a great golden crown."

In the letter the Rebbe writes: "Upon his ascent to our Holy Land, may it be built and established through our righteous Moshiach speedily in our days amen so may it be His will, may his coming be blessed to Hashem. Man's steps are established by Hashem, and since Hashem has merited him to ascend to our Holy Land, Divine Providence has surely placed upon him a special role on the holy land, to revive a living spirit among our Sephardic Jewish brethren, and to influence them in strengthening Torah and mitzvos in general, and particularly that they should guard their children and young ones from being prey, and not fall into the net of hefker education G-d forbid, but rather watch over them with an open eye, that all of them, their sons and daughters without exception, should be educated on the foundations of Torah and mitzvos, with fear of Heaven and the tradition of his holy ancestors, in educational institutions conducted with pure holiness.

And in the merit of his work fulfilling this role with mesirus nefesh, may Hashem lengthen his days and years with goodness and pleasantness, and he shall still flourish in old age, vigorous and fresh, and succeed in his mighty work to increase and glorify Torah, and in his personal matters from soul to flesh, sufficiently and more."

Cancellation of Plans to Immigrate to the United States[edit | edit source]

A short time after arriving in Eretz Hakodesh, he considered immigrating to the United States, due to his despair over bringing close the Moroccan immigrants who had come to Eretz Hakodesh. In his biography "Sidna Baba Sali" it is told about his letter to the Rebbe from 1952 regarding his desire to leave his flock in Eretz Hakodesh and immigrate to the United States:

"His entire purpose in ascending to Eretz Hakodesh was to sit in peace with Torah and divine service, and due to the low spiritual state in Eretz Yisrael... he is thinking of going from holy to mundane, and perhaps immigrate to the United States... where one can sit with Torah and divine service without any disturbance... The Rebbe answered the Admor a long and reasoned response with words of Chazal and words of Kabbalah and Chassidus... In his letter to the Admor the Rebbe writes, that from Heaven they merited the Admor to be a "communal man and leader in Israel" whom hundreds and thousands listen to, and that from Heaven he was given such strong powers. Therefore it is preferable that he remain close to the places where our Sephardic brethren who thirst for the word of Hashem are found... and therefore he advises our Rabbi to remain in the Holy land."

Indeed in a letter from 9 Nissan 5712 the Rebbe writes to him: "I pleasantly received your precious letter from before, and also this second letter from the end of Adar. And I come with this to propose my opinion regarding your question... that since your desire is to sit with Torah and divine service therefore you moved your tent to Eretz Hakodesh, and there is consideration that perhaps you will travel to the United States."

The Rebbe advised him to establish his residence in Eretz Hakodesh because he is in the category of a king, for the rabbis are called kings, "a communal man and leader in Israel whom hundreds and thousands listen to... behold a tremendous and great merit has fallen to the portion of his honor, that he should use the talents and qualities that Hashem has graced him with and the royal treasures that were transmitted to him from his holy ancestors generation after generation, to go out to war against the evil inclination, kelipos and sitra achra, at the head of the armies of holy communities who are influenced by and listen to his will, to fight the war of Hashem and publicize His divinity in all their surroundings." The Rebbe concluded the letter to the Baba Sali with a unique and singular expression in all the Rebbe's letters: "With honor, esteem and admiration."

That same day the Rebbe wrote to Rabbi Eliezer Karasik, one of the important Chabad rabbis and chairman of Agudas Chassidei Chabad in Eretz Hakodesh:

"Enclosed here is a copy of my letter that I wrote to Rabbi etc. Rabbi Israel Abuchatzeira. And if it is not considered troublesome, here is my request, that you should join with one or two others, and visit the above in his home, and tell him that you are doing this at my request to express honor."

Rabbi Karasik traveled to the Baba Sali and explained the Rebbe's words, and indeed the Baba Sali cancelled his plans to immigrate to the United States.

On 13 Nissan 5713 the Rebbe was happy to hear that he had no complaint about his aforementioned letter that advised him "to dedicate his powers for the community and not sit alone. And as understood in the known letter of Rav Sherira Gaon, that when Rav came to Babylon and arrived at a place of Torah, he did not establish his residence there, but rather went to a place where there was no Torah, and dedicated his powers to build a fence in the valley that he found."

Encouraging and Assisting Chabad Activities[edit | edit source]

Since getting to know Chabad, the Baba Sali supported all the Rebbe's activities in Eretz Hakodesh, Morocco, and in general. He maintained friendly connections with important Chabad chassidim in Morocco, Eretz Hakodesh, and France.

"Drawing Close Will Surely Bring Benefit"[edit | edit source]

On 21 Tammuz 5712, the Rebbe wrote to the administration of Reshet Oholei Yosef Yitzchak in Eretz Hakodesh: "I learned that Rabbi Abuchatzeira published a letter about them, and it is surprising that they did not inform me about this beforehand, please send a copy of his letter."

The Rebbe wrote to them again on 9 Elul 5713: "Surely they will maintain connection with the Gaon and Chassid etc. etc. Rabbi Israel Abuchatzeira... drawing close from both sides will surely bring benefit."

Thanks for the Activities of the Rebbe's Shluchim in Morocco[edit | edit source]

When he returned to Morocco in 5714, and saw what the shluchim had accomplished there in all the cities and villages, he sent a very enthusiastic letter of thanks to the Rebbe.

As he related, the Rebbe would send him the seforim of Chabad Rebbes to Morocco, and he would send the seforim of his grandfather the Admor Rabbi Yaakov Abuchatzeira ztvk"l.

In Tomchei Tmimim Brunoy[edit | edit source]

Between 5714-5724, the Baba Sali lived in Erfoud and would visit Casablanca, and also travel to France, where he frequently visited and stayed at Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim in Brunoy and studied Likkutei Torah there and maintained close connections with the yeshiva heads and rabbis: Rabbi Yosef Goldberg Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Nissan Nemenov Mashpia and Director, Rabbi Yisroel Noach Belinitzky.

In Yeshivas Chabad Casablanca[edit | edit source]

The Baba Sali would periodically visit Casablanca and would come to visit the Chabad yeshiva. Sometimes this was to immerse in the mikvah on the yeshiva grounds and when they knew he was coming, they would immediately heat the water for the tzaddik.

During these visits the Baba Sali would frequently converse with Rabbi Shlomo Matusof. And the son Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Matusof related that during one of the visits the Baba Sali tested him on Tanya.

His son Rabbi Baruch Abuchatzeira studied in Yeshivas Chabad in Casablanca and maintained friendly connections with Chabad throughout the years.

Support for the Rebbe's Mivtzoyim[edit | edit source]

When he returned to Eretz Hakodesh in 5724 he continued the warm connection with the Rebbe and his shluchim in Eretz Yisrael. When "Mivtza Tefillin" was announced, he issued a call to join the campaign together with Rabbi Ezra Attiah and Rabbi Raphael Baruch Toledano. He also issued a holy call to encourage Mivtza Neiros Shabbos Kodesh by girls who reached chinuch age.

In the struggle to amend the "Who is a Jew" law he fought alongside the Rebbe, signed the proclamation of gedolei Yisroel supporting the fight against the Vienna conversions, and for amending the law to say "conversion according to halacha."

In 5741 he published a letter of blessing for all those who participated in buying letters in the Torah scroll of Jewish children: "We are all waiting and anticipating the complete redemption that will come immediately with Moshiach Tzidkeinu, and for this we must unite and unite all of Am Yisrael. The Lubavitcher Rebbe has recently called to unite all Jewish children through writing a special Torah scroll for Jewish children who are Tzivos Hashem. It is a great merit for each Jewish boy and girl to buy one letter in this Torah scroll, and parents should do everything so their children will buy and merit one letter from the Torah scroll. My personal blessing is sent to every boy and girl who register for the Torah scroll of Tzivos Hashem. And surely we will all merit immediately the coming of King Moshiach, may he come and redeem us and lead us upright to our Holy Land. Servant of Hashem awaiting the near redemption. Israel Abuchatzeira."

Against Harming the Rebbe[edit | edit source]

At the beginning of Menachem Av 5743 he published (together with Rabbi Yitzchak Kaduri) a warning proclamation against those who harmed chassidim who taught the Tanya in Williamsburg: "All this because of spreading the teachings of Chassidus and their attachment to the light of the seven days the holy Baal Shem Tov in the way of Chabad's analytical and deep teachings whose foundations are in holy mountains through the divine Tanna our master the Baal HaTanya and Shulchan Aruch and his holy successors, until may he be separated for good long life the wonder of the generation, genius of Israel and its holy one, the honorable holy master our teacher and Rebbe of Lubavitch shlita."

Memories of His Son-in-Law Rabbi Yashar Edrei[edit | edit source]

From the memories of his son-in-law Rabbi Yashar Edrei, the Rebbe's shliach and director of Beis Chabad Netivot:

The Baba Sali With His Son-in-Law Rabbi Yashar Edrei

Once they brought him a piece of honey cake [lekach] that the Rebbe sent him. He rejoiced over this as if finding great treasure. He immediately called me and all the household members, and distributed with tremendous joy a small piece to each person, saying that it is a great merit for us and wonderful segulah to eat from the cake that the Rebbe sent.
One of the rabbis who visited his home was looking at an album of pictures of the Rebbe, and asked the tzaddik what he thought about the chassidim saying the Rebbe is Melech HaMoshiach. The Baba Sali answered him with a smile and an expression of amazement and admiration: "Istahel kilshi!" (This is an Arabic expression meaning: everything suits him, everything is coming to him).
Once some young men came to him speaking against Chassidus. He did not want to receive them, saying: "Anyone who opposes the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov is distancing Moshiach."

Letter of Condolence on the Passing of the Baba Meir[edit | edit source]

The Baba Sali's son-in-law, Rabbi Yashar Edrei related: "When the Baba Sali was sitting shiva after the passing of his righteous son Rabbi Meir z"l, he received a letter of condolence from the Rebbe. Upon receiving the letter, the Baba Sali rose from his place crying and said: Who am I and what am I that the Admor of Lubavitch shlita should think of me and send me a letter of condolence?!"

The Rebbe is Moshiach[edit | edit source]

The Baba Sali's son-in-law, Rabbi Yashar Edrei relates: "The Baba Sali's attendant, Rabbi Eliyahu Alfasi, showed the Baba Sali the album 'The Rebbe - Thirty Years of Leadership' while whispering to him: 'They say he [=the Rebbe] is Moshiach'. The Baba Sali answered him with a smile and an expression of amazement and admiration: 'Istahel kol shei!' (This is an Arabic expression meaning: everything suits him, everything is coming to him!)."

His Passing[edit | edit source]

He passed away on 4 Shevat 5744.

After his passing, a letter arrived from the Rebbe to the family members:

"Family Abuchatzeira. I was very pained to hear the news of the passing of the righteous rabbi, chassid, G-d fearing, of noble lineage, crowned with exalted qualities and traits, famous for his Torah and fear of Heaven, fear of G-d was his treasure, sat in judgment and his net was spread etc., Rabbi Israel. May the Omnipresent comfort them among the other mourners of Zion and Jerusalem. And from here on only goodness and kindness shall find them always all the days."

Documentation of Baba Sali and the Rebbe's Connections[edit | edit source]

In 5784 (2024) the film "The Last Tzaddik" was released documenting the Baba Sali and describing the connections between the Baba Sali and the Rebbe.

The film produced by director Raphael Belulo provides a glimpse into the connections between the Rebbe and the Baba Sali and Chabad institutions in Morocco.

The speakers in the film regarding the connection with the Rebbe and the Rebbe's shluchim: Professor Nissim Leon, brother of Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Leon. Dr. Meir Nizri, researcher of Tafilalt Jewry. His name appears in the book History of Chabad in Morocco, in the list of Erfoud students. R' Shneur Zalman Berger, author of History of Chabad in Morocco.

His Descendants[edit | edit source]

His son Baba Baruch, Rabbi Baruch Abuchatzeira - Netivot
His son Baba Meir, Rabbi Meir Abuchatzeira z"l
His daughter Rebbetzin Esther A"H and her husband Rabbi Yashar Edrei Netivot
His grandson Rabbi Elazar Abuchatzeira z"l
His grandson Rabbi David Abuchatzeira Nahariya
His granddaughter, wife of Rabbi Aminadav Machluf Krispin Rabbi of Kiryat Bialik
His granddaughter, wife of Rabbi Chaim Pinto Rabbi of the cities Ashdod and Kiryat Malachi