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Merkaz Sefarad Chabad and the Zaetz family wiull be hosting the community tonight, Sunday, for the annual Hiloula of Rabbi Yaacov Abuhatzeira, זצוק”ל, a.k.a the Abir Yaacov, as well as the hiloula of the Rambam, and the Alter Rebbe.

The origins of the Abuhatzeira family name:

Rabbi Shmuel Elbaz was one of the foremost Talmidim of Rabbi Chaim Vital, who was the top Talmid of Rabbi Yitzchok Luria, otherwise known as the Arizal Hakadosh.

The Tanya, Torah Shebiksav of Chassidus Chabad, is prominently based on the teachings of the Arizal as explained by Rabbi Chaim Vital, and other works of Kaballah.

Rabbi Shmuel Elbaz lived in the city of Tzfat, in Israel.

In those days, Israel was ruled by the Ottoman Empire. The taxes imposed on the Jewish people living then in Eretz Yisroel, were exorbitant and the Jewish people were living in extreme poverty.

The Yidden of Eretz Yisroel, chose to send Rabbi Elbaz to Constantinople to ask for mercy from the Ottoman rulers in Turkey.

Rabbi Elbaz traveled by foot from Safed to the port city of Haifa. With no funds to pay his fare on the boat, the captain refused to allow him to board the boat.

Placing his trust in Hashem, Rabbi Shmuel Elbaz, unrolled his traveling carpet, “chatzera” in Arabic, placed it on the sand of the beach, and sat down to learn.

As the boat left without him, and as he was engrossed in his learning, Rabbi Elbaz didn’t feel the carpet slowly moving down the beach to the water and then sailing next to the boat on the ocean. Upon seeing the miracle, the captain begged forgiveness and offered to hoist Rabbi Elbaz onto the ship, but seeing that Hashem was taking him there, he continued sailing on the carpet until he reached the shores of Constantinople (arriving even earlier than the boat itself).

The news of this miracle caused people to change the name of Rabbi Elbaz to Rabbi Shmuel Abu Chatzera – Master of the Carpet and is the name by which the family is known till this very day.

Rabbi Shmuel Elbaz’s son was Rabbi Massoud, and his son was Rabbi Yaakov also known as the Abir Yaakov.

The 145th Yahrzeit of Rabbi Yaacov Abuhatzeira will take place this Sunday night, the eve of 20 Teves, in conjunction with the 820th Yahrzeit of the Rambam and just a few days before the 212th Yahrzeit of the Alter Rebbe on 24 Teves.

Merkaz Sefard, under the leadership of Rabbi Eliezer (Lazer) Avtzon, in partnership with Mrs. Chaya Zaetz, a great great-grandaughter of the Abir Yaacov, and her family, will be hosting the annual triple Hiloula of the Abir Yaakov, Rambam and the Alter Rebbe, on Sunday, Feb 19th, eve of 20 Teves, at Ulam Chana, 556 Crown Street at 8:00 PM.

Musical entertainment will be provided by Pianist and singer, Hillel Melloul of Marseilles, France.

Suggested donation of $36 or more will be greatly appreciated to offset the costs of this Hiloula. Donations can be sent in by Zelle to 917 804 7224 or by PayPal to [email protected] or can be given at the event.

A live-stream broadcast of the event will be available on Chabadinfo and YouTube, beginning at 8:00 pm EST.

Watch Live:

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