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A Tribute to HaRav Mordechai Eliyahu, zt”l

By Rabbi Ya'aqob Menashe of Midrash BEN ISH HAI

On Monday night, June 7^th (25 Sivan), Over one hundred thousand people flocked to the funeral of the great Torah sage, HaRav Mordechai Eliyahu, zt"l, despite the extremely late hour. This was clear testimony to the greatness of a leader in Israel who reached out to every Jew of every background and origin. Hareidi (Ultra Orthodix), Modern Orthodox, Hilloni (non-religious), Ashkenazi and Sephardi, men and women, all came to pay their respects to this great man who touched them all.

HaRav Mordechai Eliyahu  was born in the month of Adar 1929 to the Gaon, the Mekubbal HaRav Silman Eliyahu, and his wife Mazal Tob. HaRav Silman was born in Baghdad; His father (HaRav Mordechai Eliyahu's grandfather) was a very rich merchant in Baghdad who had business dealings in several countries. Although they were observant Jews, the concept of dedicating one's life to Torah study was very foreign to them.

Silman soon proved himself to be an outstanding and gifted child who excelled in his education. After he completed his schooling in Baghdad, his father decided to send him to one of the top business schools in England. Shortly before his scheduled departure, he paid a visit to the great Midrash Beth Zilkha, the famed Yeshivah in Baghdad founded by HaRav Abadallah Somekh (the teacher of the Ben Ish Hai) and HaRav Ribbi Hesqel Reuben Menashe (the great great great grandfather of the author). There, the young Silman saw thousands of holy books lining the walls  -- an incredible sight which he had never seen before.

He made a decision right then and there to give up his opportunities in England in order to remain in Baghdad and study Torah at Midrash Beth Zilkha. Within a few years, his progress in Torah study was so remarkable that he began studying the Kabbalah as well as the writings of Rabbenu the Ari, z"l. HaRav Yoseph Hayyim, the Torah giant often referred to as the Ben Ish Hai, was so impressed with HaRavSilman, that when HaRav Silman made a Siyyum, the Ben Ish Hai, who would not ordinarily attend these events, made a point of participating.

HaRav Silman eventually moved to Eres Yisrael (the Land of Israel) where he continued his studies with the head of the Kabbalists there, HaRav Ribbi Shaul Doueck Hakkohen, who passed away soon after and was buried on the second day of Rosh Hashanah 5701 (1940).

It was into this eminent and distinguished family in Yerushalayim that HaRav Mordechai Eliyahu was born. Unfortunately, his father passed away when he was only eleven. He was then taken under the wing of several of the most prominent sages and luminaries of the time, including HaRav Sadqa Hussein, the Chazon Ish, and HaRav Yis-hak Nissim. Years later, HaRav Mordechai Eliyahu would head the institution for Rabbanim and Dayanim which was housed in Rab Yis-hak Nissim's Yeshivah. HaRav Mordechai himself was the youngest Dayan (Religious Judge) ever to be appointed in the Land of Israel.

There were several substantial differences in the position taken by HaRav Mordechai Eliyahu, and the Gaon, HaRav Ovadia Yoseph Shlit"a.

Perhaps the most profound area of disagreement was the issue of whether Sephardim should follow their own heritage or a new one based on the teachings of Maran Yosef Karo. HaRav Ovadiah stated that Sephardi Jews living in the Land of Israel should abandon their own customs and follow only those of Maran Yoseph Karo and, therefore by extension, those of HaRav Ovadiah Yoseph himself.

HaRav Mordechai rejected this notion and stated that each Jew must keep the holy customs and traditions of his forefathers. Sephardic Jews from Iraq, Persia, Syria, Morocco, North Africa, Bukhara, Afghanistan, Turkey, the Baltic Coast and so on should each keep their unique identity, he said, and not all be re-molded in a melting pot.

HaRav Mordechai was a diligent follower of the rulings of the Ben Ish Hai, HaRav Yoseph Hayyim, who based most of his rulings on the Shulhan 'Arukh and Rabbenu the Ari z"l, but was not afraid to quote others when he deemed fit.

HaRav Mordechai Eliyahu, had a deep and sincere love for all Jews. Which prompted him to speak out against, what he considered to be the tragedy, of Jews fighting Jews in Gush Katif. He likewise spoke out, unabashedly, against any cause or situation he considered to be harmful to his beloved Jewish people. This earned him the love of many Jews but also caused the ire of those who were against what he stood for and represented.

HaRav Eliyahu has left a great legacy; He authored many works, including a highly acclaimed work on the laws of family purity entitled, Darkhei Tahara. He published laws on Jewish Holidays, a complete set of Siddurim (prayer books) fully annotated with his Halakhoth (laws), as well as a variety of other works.

He leaves behind a wife and four children, including HaRav Shemuel Eliyahu, Chief Rabbi of Safed, and HaRav Yoseph Eliyahu, Rosh Kolel of an important Rabbinical institution in Yerushalayim.

In addition, he leaves behind a Jewish nation to whom he always reached out, irrespective of their origin or religious background. His greatness will no doubt grow even more over the years as his foresight and wisdom become more and more apparent to us all. I, for one, will be forever grateful that he was one of the luminaries who bestowed upon me my Semikha, many years ago.

His love for all his people is what will keep him forever dear in our hearts.

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See more from Rabbi Ya'aqob Menashe at www.midrash.org and ATorahMinute.com