FAMOUS FOR STORIES OF MIRACLES
MOUSA SAAD
HACHAM ELIYAHU GREW UP AMONG GEDOLIM (GIANTS OF TORAH) AT THE TIME WHEN THE STUDY OF KABALLAH FLOURISHED IN DAMASCUS UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF HIS GRANDFATHER HACHAM NISSIM INDIBO. HE NEVER LEFT HACHAM NISSIM’S SIDE, LEARNING FROM HIS WISDOM AND BEING DRAWN TO KEDUSHA (HOLINESS) AT A VERY YOUNG AGE.
Hacham Eliyahu would become not only a giant in halacha (jewish law) and gemara (talmud), but he also studied Torah hasod (kaballah) heavily, at a very young age. He was known for his greatness and as a young teenager, he became a talmid hacham (Torah scholar) among giants. He would learn and pray daily from midnight till early morning and continue his day as a community rabbi, mohel, shohet, teacher at the talmud torah and was the head of a synagogue.
Hacham Ellie stated that when he started learning, he realized he was changing and he could no longer behave in the manner of a regular person. He not only learned a tremendous amount of Torah, the hidden meanings revealed itself to him, which affected how he behaved, and conducted himself—the Torah embodied him.
Hacham Ellie stated that when he started learning, he realized he was changing and he could no longer behave in the manner of a regular person. He not only learned a tremendous amount of Torah, the hidden meanings revealed itself to him, which affected how he behaved, and conducted himself—the Torah embodied him.
When Hacham Nissim Indibo passed on, Hacham Ellie filled his position in the community over at synagogue Kitab El Dewer (the midrash of el Dewer family), where he would be the rabbi, hazan, baal koreh (read the Sefer Torah), blew the shofar and taught classes.
There is nothing in kedusha the Rabbi was not interested in. He learned shehitaa (kosher ritual slaughter) from Hacham Yishak Assa. He performed countless brit milot for the entire community, not only in Damascus. He would travel to Aleppo on a commercial bus for five hours, leaving his wife and children. When he arrived, he would perform the ceremony, refusing payment for his work. Then he traveled back home the same night, arriving at dawn—all for the sake of mitzvah. In Aleppo, Chief Rabbi Hacham Yom Tob Yedid valued Rabbi Eliyahu greatly and they enjoyed a warm friendship.
The Rabbi also traveled to Kamishle, a 12 hour ride, on the border of Turkey—again to serve the community there—all le shem shamayim (for the sake of Heaven).
I had the zechot (merit) to have him as my mohel and my rebbe, praying in his shul on Shabbat. He would teach all the boys for free.
Many rabbis, cantor and Torah readers watched and learned from him. He inspired them as they watched his love for performing each mitzvah, his kavana (purpose), and how he would be hazan on Shabbat, in the most joyous way. This was felt by the congregation.
Shabbat prayers would start early. The Rabbi would arrive an hour and half before to prepare for the tefilah, before the congregation arrived. I was among just a few boys who realized what an amazing opportunity we had, earning from the Rabbi. We had the zechot (worthiness) to study with the rabbi who would teach us with so much passion, asking nothing in return.
Rabbi Eliyahu became well-known, even among non-Jews, including higher ups in the government who flocked to this house for guidance and blessings. In 1992, when Rabbi Eliyahu wanted to leave Syria, the government refused to let him go, even though other Jews were allowed to leave at that time. The Syrian government knew the Rabbi’s value to the Jews and to the country.
When he came to America, his wife, who was a humble women of kindness, passed away. After that, for years, he would mention her in his prayers.
Always remaining humble; he refused to dress differently than everyone else, despite his greatness. He would ride a bicycle going place to place to serve the community. He loved the simple things in life and didn’t care about anything materialistic.
He was a big baal hesed (a man of loving kindness). He had a list of needy families, and widows, whom he would bring food, funds, and would do anything he could to help them. Wherever he went, he had a smile on his face and his energy could be felt.
He never wanted any honor. He was known for his love of the Jewish people—of all levels—he didn’t care how religious or non-religious a person was. Here, in Brooklyn, he attracted Hasidim, Israelis, Syrians, Ashkenazim, and Moroccans. They all flocked to the Rabbi’s house and the effects were positive.
He was known and loved for his blessings after shul. He would open his tallit and the entire kahal (congregation) would go under it for a blessing. People saw miracles from his blessings—and whatever he said, despite medical doctors, no matter how difficult the situation was—Rabbi Eliyahu prayed and Hashem listened. As it says, “a sadik makes a decree and Hashem makes it happen.”
When people would come to his house crying and thanking him after seeing a miracle, he would strongly raise his voice, point his finger to heaven and say, “The thanks only belongs to the Almighty. It’s Hashem who helped you.”
So many miracles happened because of Rabbi Eliyahu. The year he left Syria, he got up before everyone and said he dreamed of a decree against us and decided that if everyone fasted, they would be allowed to leave Syria. The news made its way to government officials, and he told them “This is what Hashem asked of me. If you want to stop it, go ahead.” Fearing his greatness, they allowed it to happen.
Rabbi Eliyahu made miracles for people who could not have children, and for those who were sick, or in desperate situations. He prayed for them, and Hashem listened. People from near and far would visit him asking for help and would receive life-changing benefits.
The rabbi loved all Jews, saw a spark in each of them and he made them see that spark as well. At his funeral in Brooklyn, where 3,000 people attended, Rabbi Duvi Ben Shoshan explained why while giving a blessing, the Rabbi would put his hand on your head and push it down. He said, “In order to receive the blessing, a person must be humble. So, he would lower their heads to be able to receive the beracha. This was tikunim for that person without the person knowing.”
He never took a day off, never went on vacation, and did not leave the community in the summer. His only interested was learning Torah, which made him happy.
Despite suffering with failing health and losing his wife, the Rabbi never complained. Even when he was in pain, he always said “It’s all for the best.”
He left behind talmide hachamim (Torah scholars) who, like their father, study Torah day and night with barely any sleep, following in his foot steps in abodat hakodesh (holy work).
Our community and am Israel lost a father. It’s not by accident the daf yomi of the day of his passing was the story of how Eliyahu Hanabi went up to heaven and his student Elisha Ben Shafat shouted, “My father, my father, our shepherd.”
Mousa Saad was among the Syrian Jews who were rescued in 1992. After moving to Brooklyn, he attended and graduated from Flatbush Yeshivah. Today he involves himself in many community organizations, but his passion is preserving Syrian Sephardic history and heritage.
