Hacham Avraham Azulai


Hacham Avraham Azulai

Date of Birth: 5330 (1570)
Date of Death: 24th of Cheshvan, 5404 (1643)
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A Short Tribute

Hacham Avraham Azulai, son of Mordecai, was born in 1570 in Fes, Morocco. As a young man, he studied Torah and Halacha with the sages of Fes. After having studied the riches of the Torah’s explicit wisdom, he began to delve into its concealed aspects.

In 1600, at the age of 30, he immigrated to the Land of Israel. He survived a shipwreck but his writings were all lost. From that time on, he used the shape of a ship as his signature.

Hacham Avraham Azulai settled in the city of Hebron, where he studied and elucidated the RaMaK’s work [Moses ben Jacob Cordovero, HaOr Yakar].

In 1619, following the outbreak of a severe epidemic in Hebron, Hacham Avraham Azulai left for Jerusalem. When the epidemic reached Jerusalem, he left for Gaza and vowed that if he would succeed in returning to Hebron he would have all the original Torah commentary he had written over the years published. When the epidemic subsided, Hacham Avraham Azulai returned to Hebron, where he lived for the remainder of his life. Two daughters and a son – Hacham Yitzhak Azulai, our Master the HIDA’s grandfather, Chaim Yosef David Azulai, succeeded him.

Hacham Avraham Azulai passed away on 24 Cheshvan 5404 (1643) and was buried in Hebron. He wrote down much of his original commentary. Some has remained in manuscript form, and some has been published in the following books: Or HaHama – a concise commentary on the Zohar, Or HaLevana – edits and corrections on the Zohar, Zoharei Hama – a summary of the book Yerach Yakar, Or HaGanuz - the hidden lore of the Torah according to the HA’ARI [Rabbi Isaac Luria], Chessed Le’Avraham – explanations on the Bible, Ahava Ba’Ta’anugim – a commentary on Tractate Avot.

A few quotes from the Rabbi on Torah Study
in which he teaches that the Torah is like a mirror, in which each sees according to his own form

In it will you see…that a person will find that all the wisdom they can imagine or learn already indicated in the Torah, for the Torah is like a pure, natural and shining mirror; it will reflect the beholder's image, whatever shape is placed before it. Such is the Torah, each and every person makes sense of it in keeping with his or her understanding, and sees its image in it. Indeed, the Torah has six hundred thousand interpretations because each one of the six hundred thousand souls received an interpretation of the Torah, according to a literal, allegorical or esoteric meaning. Each soul will interpret Torah in keeping with the interpretation it received, and will find that particular interpretation in Torah, just like a mirror that reflects the shapes of all people, despite that they each have different shapes.

Hacham Avraham Azulai, Ahava BaTa'anuguim, Tractate Avot, chapter 5, published by Orot HaHaim, Jerusalem (1987) From 'The Daily Sage'
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"It is our custom to light a yahrzeit candle in honor of the memory of the Sages, as it is said: “the life breath of man is the lamp of the Lord” (Proverbs 20:27). And it is good to add from the light of the Torah to the light of the candle, as it is said “For the commandment is a lamp, the teaching is a light” (Proverbs 6:23). And it is good to increase the teaching of the Sage on the anniversary of his death, as Rabbi Yochanan based on the teachings of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai said, “Each scholar whose sayings are taught in this world, his lips speak from the grave (Bechorot 31B).”

“Even if all of the skies are a blank parchment, and all human beings are clerks, and all of the forests are quills, we would never be able to write down what our Sages have taught us. But even a few righteous are also good, and thanks to the sacred Torah and the teachings that Israel will learn in the Sage’s name on the anniversary of his death, the Holy One Blessed be He, will share our part with them, and we will never be ashamed because of our faith in the Holy One Blessed be He, and on his great benevolence and truth will we lean, for He hides his abundant goodness for those who are worthy and revere Him.”

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Rabbi Chananaia son of Akashia stated, God wanted to grant merits to Israel, therefore he gave them many laws and commandments as it states, "Because God wants righteousness he increased the amount of Torah and splendor." (Isaiah 42:21).