Yaakov Abuhatzeira
Encyclopedia
Yaakov Abuhatzeira, also known as the Avir Yaakov and Abu Hasira (1805–1880), was a leading Moroccan-Jewish rabbi
of the 19th century.
In 1879, Abuhatzeira left his native Morocco
and embarked on a pilgrimage to the Land of Israel
via Algeria, Tunisia and Libya. While passing through the Egyptian Nile Delta city of Damanhur
, he grew ill and died. He was buried in Damanhur
, where his tomb has become a site of pilgrimage.
According to legend, the ship that was carrying Rabbi Abuhatzeira from Morocco to the Holy Land
sank, and he miraculously survived by clinging to a straw mat. He was washed ashore and continued to Jerusalem. He died in Egypt while on his journey home to Morocco.
Every year on the 19th of Tevet
a ceremony is held at his tomb, Egypt, often attended by hundreds of devotees, many travelling from Israel. The tomb is an official antiquity site protected by the government of Egypt. Some Egyptians have protested against permitting Jews to enter Egypt to make the annual pilgrimage to Rabbi Abuhatzeira's tomb.
He is the grandfather of Rabbi Yisrael Abuhatzeira, also known as the Baba Sali
, a revered rabbi and kabbalist whose tomb in Netivot
is one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in Israel.
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
of the 19th century.
In 1879, Abuhatzeira left his native Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
and embarked on a pilgrimage to the Land of Israel
Land of Israel
The Land of Israel is the Biblical name for the territory roughly corresponding to the area encompassed by the Southern Levant, also known as Canaan and Palestine, Promised Land and Holy Land. The belief that the area is a God-given homeland of the Jewish people is based on the narrative of the...
via Algeria, Tunisia and Libya. While passing through the Egyptian Nile Delta city of Damanhur
Damanhur
Damanhur is a city in Lower Egypt, and the capital of the Beheira Governorate. It is located northwest of Cairo, and E.S.E. of Alexandria, in the middle of the western Nile Delta....
, he grew ill and died. He was buried in Damanhur
Damanhur
Damanhur is a city in Lower Egypt, and the capital of the Beheira Governorate. It is located northwest of Cairo, and E.S.E. of Alexandria, in the middle of the western Nile Delta....
, where his tomb has become a site of pilgrimage.
According to legend, the ship that was carrying Rabbi Abuhatzeira from Morocco to the Holy Land
Holy Land
The Holy Land is a term which in Judaism refers to the Kingdom of Israel as defined in the Tanakh. For Jews, the Land's identifiction of being Holy is defined in Judaism by its differentiation from other lands by virtue of the practice of Judaism often possible only in the Land of Israel...
sank, and he miraculously survived by clinging to a straw mat. He was washed ashore and continued to Jerusalem. He died in Egypt while on his journey home to Morocco.
Every year on the 19th of Tevet
Tevet
Tebet is the fourth month of the civil year and the tenth month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar. It follows Kislev and precedes Shevat. It is a winter month of 29 days...
a ceremony is held at his tomb, Egypt, often attended by hundreds of devotees, many travelling from Israel. The tomb is an official antiquity site protected by the government of Egypt. Some Egyptians have protested against permitting Jews to enter Egypt to make the annual pilgrimage to Rabbi Abuhatzeira's tomb.
He is the grandfather of Rabbi Yisrael Abuhatzeira, also known as the Baba Sali
Baba Sali
After this incident, the Jewish population of Tafilalt fled to the nearby city of Arfoud, and then to the city of Boudnib. In Bodniv, Rabbi Yisrael was asked to succeed his brother as rav, but he refused. He wanted to travel to Palestine to print his brother's sefarim...
, a revered rabbi and kabbalist whose tomb in Netivot
Netivot
Netivot is a city in the Southern District of Israel in Israel. At the end of 2009 the city had a total population of 26,700. It was founded in 1956 as a development town along with Sderot to the north, and Ofakim to the south...
is one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in Israel.