Community Magazine December 2003

50 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE TISHREI 5763 OCTOBER 2003 50 s xc R A B B I D A V I D S U T T O N Giants of The Glory Days Hacham Yaakov Haim Sofer k"mz The Kaf HaHaim DEDICATED IN MEMORY OF THE VICTIMS OF THE TERRORIST BOMBING IN TURKEY: YOEL COHEN ULCER (19), ANNA RUBINSTEIN (85), HER GRANDDAUGHTER ANITA RUBINSTEIN (8), AVRAHAM VAROL (40), BERTA OZDOGAN (35) AND YONAH ROMANO (60) In 1909, a small yeshiva called Shoshanim LeDavid opened in the Bucharian quarter. It was in this Beit Midrash that the Kaf HaHaim studied and wrote his books. When the first volume was complete, he needed to raise money to publish it. Although Kabbalists pray every night in Tikun Hatzot that they shouldn't have to leave Israel-the Kaf HaHaim had no choice. He decided to travel to Egypt to visit wealthy men who might fund the dissemination of his work. After the train ride, he immediately ran into Yosef Smouha, a man of means who recognized the Rabbi and questioned his unlikely appearance in Egypt. When told the reason, Yosef Smouha gave him the 200 Lirot he needed, and the Kaf HaHaim was able to make the return trip on the same train. When the Kaf HaHaim appeared at the Yeshiva so quickly, the other Torah students learned of the success of the trip. They asked, "If you did so well in such a short time, why didn't you stay and raise funds to publish future volumes?" The Kaf HaHaim taught that when a person needs money, he should only take care of what is necessary now. He shouldn't worry about the future until the future arrives. That first volume was a best seller. Out of humility, he attributed the success of the book to the merit of it being written in Israel. Similarly, when Hacham Ben Zion visited Rav Moshe Feinstein, Rav Moshe saw that he was a great Talmid Hacham and walked him out to the car upon his departure. When his wife told this over, Hacham Ben Zion explained, also out of humility, that Rav Moshe did this out of respect to Israel where his visitor came from. The Kaf HaHaim's humility could perhaps be traced to his father, Rabbi Yitzchak Baruch. On the last day of his life, Rabbi Yitzchak said, "People have many thoughts in their heart, but only Atzat Hashem (G-d's plans) last." People have many different motives for their deeds, but which deeds last? Only those A fter 34 years in Baghdad, Rav Yaakov Haim Sofer, who would later be known by his book, the Kaf HaHaim, made his first trip to Israel in 1904. From the times of exile after the Second Beit HaMikdash was destroyed, during the era the Talmud was written, up until the last century when the Ben Ish Chai was the Chief Rabbi of the city, Baghdad had been a center of great Torah learning. No city in exile, though, compares to the rapture and holiness of Israel—and Rav Yaakov Haim Sofer wanted to live there. He sent a letter to his wife to join him. With the blessing of the Ben Ish Chai, the family settled in Jerusalem.