Baruch Dayan HaEmes: The Kabbalist Rabbi Amos Guetta zt"l Murdered in Netanya
Baruch Dayan HaEmes. The Jewish world was struck with shock and pain this morning upon hearing of the terrible murder of the righteous Kabbalist, Rabbi Amos Guetta zt"l, one of the greatest Kabbalists of our generation. He was stabbed to death inside his Beis Midrash in Netanya, passing away at the age of 75 (Wednesday, 16 Tammuz 5786).
According to reports, in the early morning hours, around 5:45 AM, a man entered the "Rabbi Yitzchak Chai Taieb" Beis Midrash in the Neot Herzl neighborhood of Netanya and stabbed the Rav four times. Magen David Adom (MDA) teams called to the scene found him unconscious, without a pulse or breathing, suffering from severe penetrating wounds. They evacuated him in critical condition to Laniado Hospital in the city, where doctors were forced to pronounce his passing. The police launched a manhunt, and after about two hours, the suspect was arrested in central Netanya.
According to the initial investigation, the suspect is a young man in his twenties from Netanya, known to the police and apparently suffering from mental distress. He was known to the Rav and was among the needy individuals whom the Rav had drawn close and helped over the years. Reports indicate that he arrived at the Beis Midrash in the morning, asked to pray, and within moments an argument erupted that ended in a shocking murder. The police emphasize that this is a criminal incident, and the investigation is ongoing.
Rabbi Amos Kamos Chaim Guetta zt"l was born in Libya in 5711 (1951) and immigrated to Israel, residing in Netanya for decades. In his youth, he worked for a living and even studied medicine for about four years, but eventually left everything behind to dedicate himself entirely to Torah and the service of Hashem. For years, he traveled daily to learn with his study partner, the "Rav of Porat," the Gaon Rabbi Avraham Mordechai Yitzchaki zt"l.
Over the years, Rabbi Guetta became known as one of the greatest Kabbalists of the generation, a hidden tzaddik and a worker of miracles. Many flocked to his door to receive a blessing, advice, and salvation. He founded the "Rabbi Yitzchak Chai Taieb" Beis Midrash in Netanya and served as the Rav and halachic authority for Libyan Jewry. Above all, he was known for his dedication to drawing distant Jews closer to their roots. He took baalei teshuvah, troubled youth, and outcasts whom no one else wanted under his wing, returning them to the embrace of Judaism.
Throughout the years, a deep and mutual reverence existed between Rabbi Amos Guetta zt"l and Rabbi Berland shlit"a. Years ago, when Rabbi Guetta saw The Rav arriving at a Beis Midrash in Netanya with a large crowd following him, he exclaimed in awe: "I saw the entire Heavenly Court entering with him." On that same occasion, The Rav said: "We have merited to know another tzaddik in this generation." The Rav also testified to Rabbi Guetta's greatness, saying that whoever wishes to see what a Tanna from previous generations looked like should go and see Rabbi Amos Guetta.
Rabbi Guetta, for his part, was one of the greatest supporters of The Rav during his times of persecution and suffering. He clarified that all the humiliation and persecution The Rav endures is solely by his own will—that he takes upon himself the suffering of all of Israel in order to annul harsh decrees and sweeten judgments for the Jewish people. In one of the revelations he shared with his students, he exposed a glimpse of The Rav's spiritual level:
"Several tzaddikim and I tried to spiritually alleviate the suffering from Rabbi Berland, but Rabbi Berland is not willing to let any tzaddik help him—he wants to do it all himself."
Students recount that once, during a Pidyon Nefesh with Rabbi Guetta, hundreds of notes with names passed before him. Suddenly, he stopped at the name of The Rav and insisted that it be read with full titles of honor: "Our master, our teacher, and our rabbi, Rabbi Eliezer Berland." They also shared that whenever Rabbi Guetta would speak of The Rav and his suffering, he would choke back tears before his students, overwhelmed by his sorrow over the tzaddik's pain.
Upon hearing the news of the murder, voices of pain were heard from all corners of the country. The Rishon LeZion and Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Kalman Meir Ber, described him as a "unique, exemplary figure in the city of Netanya," who for decades was an address for residents seeking a blessing, advice, and salvation. The Shas movement eulogized him, stating that "for decades he spread Torah and worked tirelessly to draw distant Jews closer."
The passing of Rabbi Amos Guetta zt"l, in such a terrible and cruel manner, is an irreplaceable loss for the entire House of Israel. In this difficult hour, let us strengthen ourselves in prayer, unity, and unconditional love, and pray that the generation will not be left orphaned of its tzaddikim. The public is asked to recite chapters of Tehillim for the elevation of the soul of Rabbi Amos Guetta ben Fortuna zt"l. May his soul be bound in the bond of life. Baruch Dayan HaEmes.
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