The Blessing of the Saba Kadisha

A Turkish pasha once came to Tzfas, riding a white horse and dressed in a splendid uniform, with a retinue of soldiers. The fame of Rav Alfandari, the holy Rav from Constantinople, drew him to seek the Rav's blessing. When the Saba Kadisha came out to greet him, the pasha was struck by his distinguished appearance. “Please bless me,” he said.

“My berachos can be received only with humility,” the Saba Kadisha answered. “You must dismount from your horse and bow your head before me, and then I will bless you.”

The pasha agreed. He got down from his horse and bowed his head, and the Saba Kadisha blessed him that Hashem should grant him success, on condition that he work to benefit and protect his Jewish subjects.

It is told that during the First World War the Jews of Tzfas suffered from shortages of food and water. As a result of this meeting, the pasha arranged for food and water to be supplied to the Jewish residents.