Born in Morocco in 1948, Sephardic Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar, Shlita immigrated to Israel in 1962. As a close associate of former Chief Sephardic Rabbi Hacham Ovadia Yosef, Rabbi Amar served as head of the Petah Tikva Rabbinical Court. In March 2002, he was elected as the first sole Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv. In 2003, Rabbi Amar was appointed Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel.
His Message For Jews in Israel and All Over The World
“The main thing is that we need not to forget that the first Beit Hamikdash (Holy Temple) was destroyed because of avodah zarah (idol worship) and the second Beit Hamikdash because of sinat hinam (senseless hatred). Till today, almost 2,000 years later, we are still paying for it.
We still have the sinat hinam in our society. It is something unbelievable, because the sinat hinam destroyed everything and, still, we hold onto it. We must destroy it, especially due to the fact that we are a small nation that has suffered a great deal, a nation that, Baruch H-shem, went back to its land. We must look for and see the good in others and throw away sinat hinam. If we have disagreements, we should disagree in a nice way. When a parent punishes their children, it is done with consideration—it is done through love.
In the Talmud, it says that every generation that doesn’t build the third Beit Hamikdash, it’s as if it was destroyed that generation. It also means everyone has the power to build the Beit Hamikdash if we mend ourselves. This is not something too far fetched.
Sur merah vaaseh tov (keep from evil and do good). We need to keep away from the sinat hinam, need more ahavat hinam (love of our fellow man), and with that, Hashem will build the Beit Hamikdash. In the Torah it states, “Veahavta lereacha camochah (love your fellow as you love yourself).” Afterwards it is written, “Ani Hashem (I am G-d).” Once we have ahavah, (love) then Hashem will bless us.
Limud (learning) of Torah is extremely important—especially for yeshivah students. The Orach Haim says that we cannot have the redemption without Torah. He brings an example from the Zohar on Parashat Vayehi, where it says that Moshe was the goel (redeemer) in Egypt and he will be the redeemer in the future. Because of this, Moshe won’t be ready to redeem us if we are not learning Torah.
In Parashat Nitzavim the Orach Hayim says that even though the time of the redemption would come, it would get pushed back if we don’t have Torah.
We know the Talmud says if we have zechut (merit), the geulah (redemption) will come early. If there’s no zechut, then the geulah will wait until its proper time. Even though the time will come, it will get pushed back without Torah.
One could ask the question, how were the Jews of Egypt redeemed without Torah?
When Moshe came to redeem the nation of Israel, he taught them about the korban Pesah (Passover offering). By doing this, Moshe gave the people a mitzvah they could become involved with and protect themselves with and thus earn the zechut that resulted in their freedom.
What will protect our generation? Torah and gemilut hasadim (acts of kindness). People should sit and make time to learn, even those with hectic work schedules.”
