HaRav Yisrael Abuchatzeirah, ZT"L was of a well-known rabbinical dynasty. He had great skill in Talmudic interpretation and many of his halachic decisions were accepted and took root among his followers. He was regarded as someone who possessed the Ruach Hakodesh or "Divine Spirit". He was born in 1890 (5650) in the city of Tafillalt, Morocco, to a family of great kabbalists. In his youthin Morocco, while other children were busy with playing games,he occupied himself with the study of Torah.

Although still very young, people flocked to Rav Yisrael for blessings for their parnassa (income), family, and health. Consequently he became known as "Baba Sali,"(our praying father) because of the prayers that he would invoke on behalf of those who sought out his guidance.

One day, young Yisrael's father ZT"L told him, "My child, you have a great power to bless people which you cannot measure. Your words can bring great help to men. From now on, you must use this power to say good things about others and to bless them."

Young Yisrael gave his word. Soon it became known that the blessings of this young child brought miraculous results. He became famous as Baba Sali. A master of the Kabbala and a great Torah Sage, he took over his father's position as head of the yeshiva and Rabbi of the community. Although he regularly gave many lectures in Torah and kabbala, he did not permit his students to write them down because he wanted his scholarship to remain unknown. Nevertheless, his fame as a holy man and a righteous Tzadik continued to draw Jews to him from all over. Even Arabs came to receive his blessings and the coins he gave for charity.

At nineteen he was inducted as the Rosh Hayeshiva, after his father's death. After an extended one year trip to Erets Yisrael he returned, and was compelled to take the position of Rav of the kehilla (community) after the murder of his brother by an Arab. He gave daily lectures, served as a judge in the beis din (rabbinical court), and set the tone for the kehilla. The community appreciated that nothing escaped his holy, penetrating eyes. From throughout Morocco, people converged on his home for his brachos, his counsel, and his encouragement.

In 1964 CE when Baba Sali noted that much of Moroccan Jewry had emigrated to Erets Yisrael, he followed them to fulfill his dream of settling there. Baba Sali chose Yavneas his home because many of his followers had settled there.

In 1970 CE he moved to Netivot where he was steadily visited by Chassidim, Ashkenazim and Sephardim who sought his unique counsel. He stressed emunah (faith), humility, ahavat Yisrael (love of fellow Jews) and kiyum hamitzvos (fulfilment of mitzvos). His phenomenal memory allowed him to access informationat will, whether it dealt with law, Talmud, Kabbala, etc. His love for the land of Israel led him to settle in a small town called Netivot. He was very humble and did not want to attract attention, however, his prophetic powers and his miraculous prayers soon became renowned. Thousands ofJews from all over the world would come to seek his advice andblessings for children, health, and livelihood. Baba Sali was very close to other great Torah scholars, especially the Lubavitcher Rebbe ZT"L, whom he referred to as "the Great Eagle in the Heavens." He strongly encouraged the Rebbe's Mitzvah campaigns, especially urging young girls to light candles for Shabbat and Yom Tov.

His respect for the Ashkenazim

When Rav Abuchatzeirah came from Morocco to settle in Erets Yisrael many years ago, he arrived in the portin Acre north of Haifa. He was warmly received since his reputation as a scholar and miracle worker had long preceded him. He settled in a well known town in the north of the country.

During his first days in Erets Yisrael, many ordinary people came to visit him and to ask for his blessing. Torah scholars from all over the country came to greet him andbask for a few moments in the pure light which he radiated. In addition, the scholars and Rabbis of the city came to greet him and didn't leave his side.

One of the leading Rabbis of the city began to talk with the Baba Sali about his experiences and impressions of the Tzaddikim of previous generations.

When the conversation turned to the Baal Shem Tov, the founding father of Chassidus, the Rabbi launched into a well rehearsed invective of derisive and contemptuous assertions.

At that moment, the Baba Sali stood up and excused himself. He immediately called together his household, instructed them to pack all their belongings, and prepare to move.

"I cannot dwell together in the same city with Rabbis who show contempt for our sages and teachers."

The Baba Sali Visits Safed
In 1921 CE, a member of the illustrious Abuchatzeirah family of Morocco visited Israel. It was his first trip to the Land of our forefathers, and Rabbi Yisrael Abuchatzeirah was especially excited about visiting the mystical city of Safed. Known even then as the Baba Sali, the young, thirty-year-old prince of Morocco, traveled with a personal attendant. When he reached the city, well-wishers, rabbis and children came to greet him. After settling down, he went to officially meet with the rabbis of the town, especially the saintly Rabbi Eliezer Shlomo Elfandari ZT"L.

We can image how the Baba Sali reacted to the report of the haunted Ari Sefardi Synagogue. "Impossible!" he uttered. "Demons in control of the holy synagogue in which the saintly Ari Zal prayed! Never!"

But the facts were real. Anyone who entered there did not leave alive. After a few mysterious deaths of this type, the beadle of the synagogue had locked and bolted it closed indefinitely.

A Time to Act
Rav Yisrael Abuchatzeirah, fully aware of the danger which awaited anyone who dared to enter the synagogue, sent his personal aide straight away to the gatekeeper's house to implore him to open the synagogue for him. In the meantime, Rabbi Yisrael walked down to the Ari mikve (ritual immersion pool)and immersed in the cold spring water pool.

The old gatekeeper flatly refused the aide's request. "Don't you know," he told the young man sternly, "how many corpses lie inside? It is impossible to remove them." With a sad look in his eyes, he concluded, "I cannot give the key to you or to anyone else. I will not be a party to certain death."

The Baba Sali's personal attendant persisted,"My Rebbe, the holy Rabbi Yisrael Abuchatzeirah, is not an ordinary sightseer, nor is he foolish to endanger his life without due reason. Surely, he has a special mission to accomplish here in Safed by redeeming the holy synagogue from the grip of these demons. It is your duty to open the shul. Don't fear. My Rebbe's blessing shall be upon you."

Slowly, the beadle acquiesced to the Baba Sali's request. A time was set to meet in the courtyard of the synagogue an hour later that very afternoon.

Standing by the huge doorway to the synagogue, the gatekeeper again reiterated his reluctance to open the door.

"Therefore," he said with a heavy, nervous tone in his voice, "I must ask you to please tie this rope around your waist. If, Heaven forbid, you do not come out, I shall be able to pull....."

"It is unnecessary, my dear friend,"said the Baba Sali. "Fear not! In another few minutes you will be inside with me, alive and well."

The Doorway to Life or Death
The gate keeper unlocked the outer door with a long, bronze key, and pushed the door open. It squeaked loudly on its hinges.

The Baba Sali took the key to the inner door some fifteen feet inside. As he stepped in, he turned to his aide."Hold onto my coat and don't let go," he whispered."And don't say a word."

The gatekeeper watched them with great expectation. The Moroccan Jew wore his turban and long Sephardic style coat which nearly touched the ground. His aide was obviously nervous and bent down as he followed his master inside.

They stopped at the inner door long enough for Rabbi Abuchatzeirah to unlock and open it. Outside, the sun was about to set, and a gray twilight mist darkened the sky.

The Baba Sali boldly stepped into the main synagogue. Suddenly, a strange sight lay before them. The synagogue blazed full of light. It was so uncanny that the aide felt his heart pounding louder than the silence.

Slowly, the two tiptoed across the hall to the Holy Ark at the front of the synagogue. Rabbi Yisrael Abuchatzeirah opened the Ark, took out a Torah scroll, and carried it to the bimah. The young aide followed him holding tightly to his master's robe. There he opened the Torah scroll and read from it out loud. His voice danced across the hall in all directions, mingling with the strange rays of light that filled the room.

When he finished, the Baba Sali closed the Torah scroll, and returned it to its place in the Holy Ark. Only then did he sit down.

"You may release your hold on my garment now," he said. "The danger is over."

In his melodious voice, the prince of Morocco began to chant the words of prayer recited before the afternoon service. His aide went and brought the gatekeeper, who waited by the inner door until after the Baba Sali concluded the Afternoon service.

"Please, forgive me," begged the old man. "I didn't believe that...."

"It is all right. You did just as any sensible person should do."

The gatekeeper kissed the Baba Sali's hand in respect. The Baba Sali left with the personal attendant. At last, in the merit of the holy Rabbi Yisrael Abuchatzeirah, the Ari Sefardi Synagogue was freed from the specter of death and was once again open to all.

Sources:
David Rossoff. Land of Our Heritage, Safed: The Mystical City.

Shema Yisrael Torah Network

Nishmas Chayim: Center for Torah, Chassidus and Jewish Spirituality

The Sephardic-Moroccan Page