Rav Yehuda Ibn Atar
Av Bais Din and Rosh Yeshiva of Fez, Morocco, remembered as a humble blacksmith-scholar, a kabbalist and author of the Minchas Yehuda.
Biography
Early years
Rav Yehuda Ibn Atar zt"l, known as the Minchas Yehuda after his commentary on the Torah, was born in Fez, Morocco, in Elul, the son of Rav Yaakov. Fez was a famous city of Torah. Many of the Rishonim, including the Rif and the Rambam, were connected with it, and it housed many yeshivos.
The Ibn Atar family was among the most famous Jewish families of Morocco. Another well-known member of the family was Rav Chaim Ben Atar, the Ohr HaChaim (1696–1743).
Rav Yehuda learned under Rav Vidal HaTzarfati and Rav Menachem Siriro, and received semichah from both. Even after he was recognized as a talmid chacham in his own right, he continued to sit at the feet of these gedolim.
Torah and leadership
In 5442 (1682), when he was only twenty-seven, Rav Yehuda headed a yeshiva. In 5458 (1698), at the age of forty-three, he was appointed dayan in Fez. Six years later he became Av Bais Din, and he held that position until his petira in 5493 (1733).
In 5460 (1700), heavy taxes were placed on the Jews of Fez to pay for the wars Morocco was fighting. Most of the community, Rav Yehuda among them, were forced to flee to Meknes. He remained there until 5464 (1704), when conditions for the Jews had somewhat improved, and then returned to Fez.
Rav Yehuda never took a salary for heading the yeshiva. He supported his family as a blacksmith, and as soon as he had earned enough for the day's needs, he stopped working and went back to the Bais Medrash to learn.
Teachings and seforim
Rav Yehuda wrote many seforim. They include the Minchas Yehuda on the Torah; Minhagei Treifos B'Fez; Dinei Get V'Chalitzah; She'eilos U'Teshuvos and Psakim; and Shir Michtam, his work on the laws of shechitah and treifos, which he composed in rhyme.
He was also a kabbalist. The Chida (Rav Chaim Yosef David Azulai) writes of him in Shem HaGedolim as a great and holy Rav, the Av Bais Din of Fez, who was trained in miracles. The Chida adds that he heard of several wonders that happened to him both in his lifetime and after his passing.
Legacy
Rav Yehuda left a lasting mark on Moroccan Jewry. Together with his talmid Rav Yaakov Ibn Tzur (the Yaavetz), he gathered the many minhagim of the kehillos of the Western lands, following the takanos of the rabbonim who settled there after the expulsion from Spain. These rabbonim became known as Rabboseinu Ba'alei HaMinhagim, and their rulings are often quoted in halachic seforim.
Rav Yehuda and his Bais Din also established many takanos that are still kept in communities today, such as limits on overspending at the seudos of a bris, a bar mitzvah or a chasuna.
Rav Yehuda passed away on 19 Sivan 5493 (1733). Though his level of holiness is beyond our reach, his conduct and his fine character remain a model for those who wish to follow in his ways.
Stories
In the Lions' Den
It is told that in Rav Yehuda's lifetime the ruler of Morocco was Sultan Mullah Ismael, who was hostile to the Jews and looked for ways to harm them. His government placed heavy taxes on the community, leaving many families poor. It also imprisoned rabbonim and communal leaders, so that the community would have to pay very large sums to redeem them.
Once, Rav Yehuda himself was imprisoned. When the community could not raise the amount the Sultan demanded for his release, Rav Yehuda was thrown to the lions. To everyone's shock, he walked back and forth in the den, and the lions did not touch him. He came out unharmed.
The Chida records in Shem HaGedolim that he heard of this from the holy ones of the West. He writes that Rav Yehuda remained in the den for a day and a night, and that the whole affair was a ploy to extract money from the Jews. After this became known, Rav Yehuda was regarded as a tzaddik who was protected from harm, and as a worker of miracles.
Watching the Coals
It is told that Rav Yehuda, the head of the bais din in the capital, once walked past a stand where a merchant sold coals. The man called out to him, "Rabbi, I am hungry. May I ask you to stay and watch my merchandise while I run home to eat?" The Rav agreed willingly, and the merchant left.
Soon afterwards Rav Yaakov Ibn Tzur passed by and was astonished to see the revered Av Bais Din sitting in the marketplace beside a stand of coals. He asked what was happening, and Rav Yehuda explained. "But what about the honor of the Torah?" asked Rav Yaakov.
Rav Yehuda smiled. "I always wondered about the words of Rebbi, Rav Yehuda HaNasi, who said that he was ready to do anything a person asked of him. Now I understand. Even if he were asked to watch over sacks of coals, he would agree. And if Rebbi would agree, then certainly I must."
Seforim
- Minchas Yehuda: His commentary on the Torah.
- Minhagei Treifos B'Fez: The customs of Fez regarding treifos.
- Dinei Get V'Chalitzah: Halachic work on the laws of divorce and chalitzah.
- She'eilos U'Teshuvos and Psakim: His responsa and halachic rulings.
- Shir Michtam: His work on the laws of shechitah and treifos, written in rhyme.
Family & talmidim
Teachers: Rav Vidal HaTzarfati, Rav Menachem Siriro
Talmidim: Rav Yaakov Ibn Tzur (the Yaavetz)
Also on 19 Sivan
All hilulos on 19 Sivan ›Historical sources
- Hamodia, Day in History, 19 Sivan
- Shem HaGedolim (the Chida)