“We are grateful every day” – Letter from Baba Chaki, brother of Baba Sali

“We are grateful every day” – Letter from Baba Chaki, brother of Baba Sali
Rabbinic letter signed in the holy handwriting of the righteous and wonder-working tzaddik, Rabbi Yitzchak Abuchatzeira – “Baba Chaki, ” brother of “Baba Sali” and Chief Rabbi of the cities of Ramla and Lod. Lod, Kislev 5710 [1950].

It is well known that letters from tzaddikim, especially those bearing their holy signatures, are regarded as segulot and protective amulets. This letter, dealing with the “bringing in of a Torah scroll, ” includes the segulah phrase: “We are grateful to you every day, ” written on the tzaddik’s official letterhead, and signed in his holy hand.

In addition to being a Torah giant in revealed knowledge and simultaneously serving as Chief Rabbi of two major cities, Baba Chaki was known as a divine Kabbalist, like his brother Baba Sali, who was five years his junior. A number of his remarkable miracle stories are recorded in the book Sidna Baba Chaki (Jerusalem, 2010), Chapter 19, “His Blessings Left a Mark” (pp. 357–370).

[1] leaf. 25 cm.

Good–very good condition. Fold marks. Filing holes.

The revered kabbalist Rabbi Yitzchak Abuchatzeira, “Sidna Baba Chaki” [1895–1970], was a tzaddik and miracle worker from the saintly Abuchatzeira family. He was the son of Rabbi Masoud Abuchatzeira and brother of Baba Sali. He served in the rabbinate in Morocco and, after immigrating to Israel, was appointed Chief Rabbi of Ramla and Lod.

He was born in the town of Rissani, in the Tafilalt region of Morocco. In 1920, he moved with his brother Baba Sali to the town of Boudenib, following anti-Jewish decrees in Rissani and the murder of their older brother Rabbi David by the authorities. In 1936, he moved with his family to the town of Erfoud, under French rule, where he led the Jewish community.

In 1945, he left Morocco and moved to Oran, Algeria, which was home to many Jews who had fled Tafilalt due to persecution. In 1948, he immigrated to Israel with his family and was appointed Chief Rabbi of Ramla and Lod. He was also a member of the Chief Rabbinate Council.

Even in Morocco, he was renowned for his wonders and blessings, and many sought his counsel and comfort. One miracle recounted by his family is that for decades, two people would visit his home regularly—on Fridays, a woman, and on Sundays, a man. After his passing, the family turned to the tzaddik Rabbi Yisrael Abuchatzeira, the Baba Sali ztz”l, to inquire about their identities. His reply: the woman was none other than Rachel Imeinu, and the man, Eliyahu HaNavi, both coming to dwell in the presence of their “holy father.”