Hacham Yeshua Attiah

12 Tevet 5675 - 19 Cheshvan 5748      

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Hacham Yeshua Attiah

A Short Tribute

Hacham Yeshua Attiah was born to Jamillah and Hacham Yitzhak Attiah on 12 Tevet, 5675 (1914), in Jerusalem.

Hacham Yeshua Attiah studied at the Porat Yosef yeshiva in Jerusalem where Hacham Ezra Attiah and Hacham Yaacov 'Ades were among his teachers. In 1935, Hacham Yeshua Attiah married Tzofia, daughter of Rabbi Yehuda. Hacham Yeshua Attiah was ordained to the rabbinate in 1938.

He was untiring in his Torah study and completed studying the entire Talmud several times. Stringent in his ethical behavior and avoidance of idle talk, he always comported himself in utmost modesty, and gave half his earnings to charity. When the Porat Yosef yeshiva was destroyed during the War of Independence of 1948, Hacham Yeshua Attiah found employment and worked for four years as a clerk in the Ministry of the Interior.

Hacham Yeshua Attiah set his permanent place for study at the Brisk yeshiva study hall. He studied to become a dayan and served in the Haifa and Tel Aviv rabbinic courts for 15 years; he also taught at the Midrash Beit El yeshiva in Jerusalem for 25 years.

Hacham Yeshua Attiah passed away on 19 Heshvan, 5748 (1987). His original commentary has been published in Sha'arei Yeshua, which also contains clarifications on the Talmud, Halakha, Torah, and HaZa"L literature.

A few quotes from the Rabbi on 'Redemption of Israel' in which he teaches that redemption and victory can only be achieved by unity
"…sending gifts to one another and presents to the poor". The amendment to send gifts on Purim was made because Purim is the symbol of unity, as it says, "Go, assemble all the Jews". Redemption and victory can only be achieved by unity; that is why they amended that presents be sent and that love and unity between people be shown.
Sha'arei Yeshua, Part B, p. 115, published by Gideon Attiah, Jerusalem, 1990