Community Magazine December 2013

This humility wasn’t just a quality he extended outward; it was something he felt deep inside himself, a joyous, quiet happiness that bespoke true contentment. Just as Aharon HaKohen was sincerely proud of the accomplishments of his younger brother, Moshe – never begrudging him for eclipsing his fame – Hacham Raful was exuberantly proud of his younger brother, Hacham Yosef, the renowned Rosh Yeshivah of Ateret Torah. “He was in awe of his brother,” says Rabbi Diamond, “filled with kavod [respect].” He would often tell people, “You should meet my brother – he’s a great Torah scholar,” as if to suggest that he was nothing in comparison. “The Safeguard of Wisdom is Silence” Hacham Raful was a man of few words, but who always spoke with wisdom. Growing up, his sons became accustomed to his quiet nature and knew to value the words he did say as if they were jewels. For a long time, they wondered what went through his mind during the nearly month-long period in September, 1970 when he and his fellow passengers were held hostage by Palestinian hijackers in Jordan. Ultimately they came to realize that he approached this in the spirit of the timeless rabbinic adage, “ Seyag lehochmah shetikah – the safeguard of wisdom is silence.” This proverb refers not just to reticence, but to a complete lack of thought, and full surrender to Hashem’s will. While he was held hostage, Hacham Raful put himself in Hashem’s hands, without thinking about what would happen or why, truly recognizing that Hashem and Hashem alone controls our fate in every situation. “The Gemara Was His Life” Hacham Avraham Harari-Raful was a loyal disciple of Hacham Ezra Attiyeh, who taught him to cherish Torah as way of life. His primary point of focus was always on Torah study and mitzvot. “There was nothing more important to him than limud Torah [Torah study]” vouches Rabbi Diamond. His son Rav Yoni related how he was told by Hacham Yehuda Ades that in his youth Hacham Raful could be found even during the Bein Hazmanim vacation in the Bet Midrash from 6:00 in the morning until 10:00 at night. This continued throughout his life. All his children speak as one about his great love for Gemara. He didn’t put up with any nonsense, they say. He was single-minded; it was only “open up the Gemara and learn.” In fact, his mood was determined by how well he understood the Gemara that day. Even in old age, he never gave up this pursuit of Torah scholarship, continuing to learn with every ounce of energy he had, determined to fulfill his last obligation – to be zaken yoshev bayeshivah – an elderly person, still learning. He assured his sons, “When I learn I don’t feel any pain.” He was so immersed in his studying that he completely forgot about whatever was bothering him, or perhaps Hashem was just doing a hesed , lifting his pain so that he could engage in what made him happiest – Gemara study. “The radiance in his smile, the tears I saw in his eyes, the joy in his face when I understood something he explained to me….” his son reminisces. “The Gemara was his life.” “What is my Obligation in this World?” Hacham Harari-Raful was forever pondering this question – and his son Rav Aharon says the answer was always changing. Every 10 to 15 years he would redirect his purpose. He started out in Israel, where he learned under Hacham Ezra Attiyeh until the age of 30. His obligation in those years was simply to learn, to be the most receptive student he could be, so that he might one day give his knowledge back to others. Once he arrived in America, he spent the 1960s and 70s in pursuit of a new mission: teaching people and ensuring they were growing. He was especially drawn to leading people toward Shabbat observance. “If a month goes by and I can’t make someone Shabbat observant, I’m disappointed,” he was known to tell his sons. Indeed, He was especially drawn to leading people toward Shabbat observance. “If a month goes by and I can’t make someone Shabbat observant, I’m disappointed,” he was known to tell his sons. Hacham Avraham dancing at his son’s wedding with Rav Schechter of Chaim Berlin. TEVET 5774 DECEMBER 2013 31