Heavy Mourning Following the Passing of the Kabbalist Chacham Avraham Chai zt”l

Heavy Mourning! "The angels have overcome the righteous, and the Holy Ark has been captured" - On Thursday morning, the Kabbalist, the Gaon and Tzaddik Chacham Avraham Chai zt"l of Pardes Katz passed away. Chacham Avraham was 97 years old at the time of his death and was laid to rest near his friend, the Kabbalist, the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Yehuda Zev Leibovitz zt"l. Chacham Avraham Chai was humble and lowly of spirit, as many knew him, and indeed many sought his door for advice and blessing. He engaged extensively in charity and kindness, as well as giving in secret for many years.

The Gaon and Tzaddik Chacham Avraham Chai zt"l was born in Baghdad, Iraq, about ninety years ago, and when he ascended to the Holy Land, he joined the group of hidden tzaddikim of Rabbi Yehuda Zev Leibovitz zt"l and the hidden tzaddik Rabbi Yosef Avraham Binyamin Berachot zt"l. Chacham Avraham Chai made a point of traveling every year to the gravesite of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov in Uman, and even expressed many times that the burial place of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov zia"a is a place where the holy Shechinah is revealed. "Travel to Uman to the gravesite of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov," he commanded all those who listened to his teachings.

The Kabbalist Chacham Avraham Chai led his study hall for years in the Pardes Katz neighborhood, and later in his home on HaShnayim Street in the neighborhood, where he brought many Jews closer to their Father in Heaven. For fifty years, "Chacham Avraham" was considered the tzaddik of Pardes Katz, and many sought his door to request blessings. Many of the greatest of Israel from all circles would come to his door to be helped by him.

He authored the book 'MeDor Dor,' which is seasoned with the teachings of our holy Rebbe and the holy book 'Likutey Halachot' by Moharnat of Breslov. He passed away without children. Among his close students, the Mashpia Rabbi Meir Shlomo shlit"a, president of the 'Beit Breslov' institutions and one of the famous students of our teacher the Rav shlit"a, stood out, whom Chacham Avraham Chai zt"l viewed truly as his own son. There was a special closeness between them, and they even studied the secrets of Kabbalah together according to the teachings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov zia"a. In recent years, Rabbi Shalom Arush shlit"a, head of the 'Chut Shel Chessed' Yeshiva, also drew close to him.

We have collected for you some of the things we published in the past regarding the connections of the Rav shlit"a with Chacham Avraham Chai zt"l:

After the great assembly that took place on the 12th of Adar I at the Western Wall, several of our Anash went to one of the tzaddikim of our generation, the Kabbalist Chacham Avraham Chai shlit"a, and told him about the assembly on behalf of our teacher the Rav shlit"a. Chacham Avraham Chai said to them, "This is how all the tzaddikim suffer. The Rav is not the only one, only that he suffers more than everyone else." He continued and said, "Rav Berland is a precious Jew, and everything he suffers is all for the sake of the people of Israel, and everything they say about him suffering for us is true and correct."

On Monday, the 9th of Kislev 5775, the world was in suspense to hear what the verdict of the court in the Netherlands would be regarding the wicked plot of the State of Israel to extradite the Rav. Two avreichim from the Yeshiva were at the synagogue of one of the tzaddikim of our generation, the Kabbalist Chacham Avraham Chai shlit"a, at 4:00 PM, and they told Chacham Avraham that the State of Israel had taken Rav Berland for trial in the Netherlands. The Chacham immediately said, "A lie! Everything is a lie!" The avreichim continued to say that the judge's verdict was supposed to be released at 2:00 PM that day, so the Chacham said to them, "There has not been a verdict yet, because judgment has a scent." He then raised his hands to heaven and began to cry and pray for the Rav. Only afterwards did the judges announce that the decision had indeed been postponed, because they did not understand at all what the State of Israel wanted from the Rav. "The wise man has his eyes in his head."

Some of our Anash were at the study hall of the tzaddik Chacham Avraham Chai shlit"a and told him about the aforementioned pidyon (redemption) of the Rav, where he said that everyone should give at least 10 dollars. The Chacham immediately took out a 50 shekel note in front of everyone and gave it for the pidyon. They said, "People like us who are full of sins need a pidyon, not Chacham Avraham," but nevertheless, the tzaddik insisted that they take the money for the Rav's general pidyon. And see in Likutey Halachot, Birkat HaShachar, Halacha 5, where Rebbe Natan elaborates on the power of the general pidyon: "The aforementioned pidyon and sweetening, which is drawn from the aspect of Ratzon D'Ratzonin (Will of Wills), is above all intellects and wisdoms, and it is the supreme root of all wisdoms, and it is the aspect of the ultimate knowledge of 'we do not know,' the aspect of 'and no man knew,' etc., as mentioned above. Therefore, it sweetens everything, to the point that they use this pidyon above to elevate from destruction to favor, to nullify the power of the burning wrath, which is the source of idolatry, which is the totality and root of all evil inclinations that are drawn from judgments, to nullify them and break them and elevate from there to the aspect of favor, etc." See there.

He passed away with a good name at the age of 97. May his memory be a blessing. T.N.C.B.H.