or centuries it has been the custom BS”D The Makam in all Sephardic communities to follow a rotating cycle of makamim THE of the Week (tunes) throughout the recitation of the te llot. The custom calls for the Chazzan (cantor) to lead the kahal (congregation) in reciting the words of the tefilla out loud to the tune of that week’s speci c makam. At NEWSLETTER PARSHAT ג‘ תמוז תשע”ה lla the entire congregation certain points during the te sings certain parts together and the chazzan must supply June 20 2015 Candlelighting 8:11 them with a song from that week’s makam. In many cases n our Parsha we even point out the makam of the week also sets the tone for the Shabbat read the story of that this was the of the entire congregation. They Korach standing Divrie exact spot that in turn will also sing the appro- up against the on kayin had buried priate songs at their Shabbat legitimacy of Parshat Hashvua hevel years before! Moshe Rabbenu But the commen- tables at home following the and eventually being punished taries explain this even further, makam of that speci c week. and swallowed up in the ground that in fact every great Jewish along with his entire group of leader throughout history has The Makam for this week Parshat followers. Simply it would seem within him a spark from the Korach is Nahawand . The tune that this was an event that soul of hevel (who later was follows a trend of soft lilting started and ended at this Moshe) and will constantly point in history, but actually, music touched with a slight tinge of sadness to be plagued with controver- the holy Arizal explains, the sy with those wicked it (perhaps as a reection of the terrible ending of Korach argument between Moshe people possessive of the and his following). The name of this Makam originates from and Korach really originat- soul of Kayin. It is really the the city called “Nahavand” in Northern Iran. As with most of ed with the ancient argu- never ending power strug- ment of old between the gle between good and evil the main Makams the names originate from the various two brothers Kayin and started by that sin of Kayin, dierent Middle Eastern countries that composed that spe- hevel. At that point Kayin which will only be correct- ci c tone of singing. sinned with provoking and ed with the nal days of killing his brother and then perfection after the In some kehillot the custom calls for the chazzan burying him in the ground. coming of the Mashiach. In to sing every Friday night in the tune of Nawa Korach, he writes was a fact, as “the Chida” points of Kayin and Nahawand. It is only the out, the last letters of the צדיק כתמר יפרח while Moshe was a reincar- words Shacharit and Musaf nation of Hevel. Moshe spells the name of Korach prayers that follow a now was reinstating and (!) implying that Korach will correcting that great sin with weekly rotation once again come back after the the death of Korach and his being coming of Mashiach. throughout the year. swallowed in the ground. Some

A project of Sephardic Torah Center of Marine Park 1950 Kimball Street For comments or to receive a free copy of the newsletter call 718-490-0043 ne of the most notably the he holy “ Hachaim was customary to do every things done great Vilna Gaon Hakadosh” had a very Stories of Friday night in that city. There every morn- Sephardic Halacha z.t.l., and feel that we unique custom. Each they would hear some divrei ing in all Sephardic minyanim is the should still have birkat kohanim every Friday he would go out and Torah and complete the mitzvah of birkat kohanim. This is day. Indeed throughout the land of buy an entire cow, slaughter it Sephardic Seudah. R’ Chaim joined his actually a biblical commandment Israel today Birkat Kohanim is recited and divide it among all the host at the ’s home. The clearly mentioned in the Torah (in in all Ashkenaz needy Torah scholars in his Gedolim rabbi gave a discourse on 14 city. One Friday there was a interpretations of a passuk Parashat ) which requires all shuls following his shortage of meat in the city and most of that he heard in a dream authored by kohanim over the opinion. It is well the people did not have meat for the the great Ohr Hachaim, unbeknown to age of Bar Mitzva known that certain coming Shabbat. But R’ Chaim succeed- him that the Ohr Hachaim was with to bless the Gedoli Hador from ed in procuring one cow and as was his them in the room. The rabbi began congregation at Eretz Yisrael when custom prepared to give it to the needy expounding on the praises of the great least once a day. visiting the United scholars. Suddenly one of the rich men Rabbi Chaim Ibn Attar. When R’ Chaim But the custom of States would of the community approached him and heard this, he called out “Chaim Ibn the Ashkenaz com- speci cally pray in asked if he could also give him some Attar” leaving out the title Rabbi. The munities here in a Sephardic meat for Shabbat as he was unable to townspeople were incensed but the purchase any in the city. R’ Chaim host sent them away and quickly the diaspora is only to have minyan just to be able to have the blessing of the refused, and proceeded to brought him home. The Birkat Kohanim on the Jewish give away the meat while next day by the morning holidays. A few reasons are kohanim. the rich man watched. The Seuda, the same thing given for this custom, mainly But all the Sephardic com- enraged man was incensed happened but again the because the blessing must munities follow the ruling and thereby insulted the host saved him from the be recited with happiness of the poor needy scholars he was enraged townspeople. and joy which we lack all year (authored by Rabbi Yosef giving the meat to. R’ However by Seuda Shelishit round while still in galut (exile). How- Karo) which requires the birkat Chaim ignored him and just after the same scene ever many argue on this reasoning kohanim to be said each and every continued on. That night he repeated itself and the even from the Ashkenaz poskim, day even in the diaspora. had a dream and R’ Chaim rabbi nished all 42 expla- was told that because he nations to the passuk, the kept silent and did not townspeople had enough he 15th of marks the Yom stand up for the honor of a of this man’s chutzpah and Yom Azkarah (Yahrtzeit) Azkarah of the great “Ohr Hachaim Talmid Chacham, he would they locked him up in a Hakadosh” (Rabbenu Chaim Ibn Attar have to be punished with a self-im- room until after Shabbat. At that of Sephardic Sages z.t.l) one of the most famous Sephar- posed galut until his receives a sign moment a strong wind began blowing dic gedolim who ever lived. He was born in the city of Sali, in the year from Heaven that his sin was atoned for. and a terrible storm struck the town the 1696 to his father R’ Moshe and named Chaim after his grandfather. Already as a Immediately y after Shabbat, R’ chaim likes of which they had never scene. The young scholar he authored a number of important sefarim that are famous among began his galut, traveling around anon- rabbi began to pray and it was revealed today’s scholars. But the most famous one of all is his commentary on the Torah ymously from city to city never staying to him that this storm was caused by the the Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh. He printed it in the city of , Italy while on his anywhere for an extended period. One angel in charge of Gehinom who way to Eretz Yisrael. This sefer is studied worldwide on a weekly Friday afternoon, as R’ Chaim wanted Shabbat to be over so he could basis by all the Jewish people until this very day. Upon his arrival approached the outskirts of a city, he sat restart the res again. But the greatest in Eretz Yisrael he eventually settled in Yerushalyim and started a under a tree to rest and began thinking sage of the generation the Ohr hachaim there. Among his students was the great Sephardic about that week’s Torah Portion, was being held back from making Chacham known as “the Chida” (Rabbi Chaim Yosef Dovid Parashat B’chukotai. In his brilliance, he havdala. If you release him and apolo- Azullai Z.t.l). The Ohr Hachaim was niftar in the year 1743 at the composed 42 novel interpretations of gize, the storm will subside. And by the young age of 47. He was buried on Har Hazisim (the Mount of one verse of that parsha! After proceed- way they revealed to the rabbi, tell the Olives) in Yerushalyim. It is the custom of many to visit his kever ing into the city, he was hosted by one Ohr Hachayim that this Shabbat his sin on the day of his Yortziet. This great Sephardic leader may of the locals in the city. At the end of was atoned for and he can return home. not be here with us today but his legacy lives on lighting their Shabbat meal, the host brought R’ This story gives us a small glimpse of his the way for the Jewish people forever and ever on. Chaim to the rabbi of the city’s home, as greatness, Zechuto Yagen Alenu, Amen.