Yaakov Abuhatzeira

Yaakov Abuhatzeira, also known as the Avir Yaakov and Abu Hasira (1805–1880), was a leading Moroccan-Jewish rabbi of the 19th century.

In 1879, Abuhatzeira left his native Morocco and embarked on a pilgrimage to the Land of Israel via Algeria, Tunisia and Libya. While passing through the Egyptian Nile Delta city of Damanhur, he grew ill and died.[1] He was buried in Damanhur, where his tomb has become a site of pilgrimage.

According to legend, the ship that was carrying Rabbi Abuhatzeira from Morocco to the Holy Land sank, and he miraculously survived by clinging to a straw mat. He was washed ashore and continued to Jerusalem. He died in Egypt while on his journey home to Morocco.[2]

Every year on the 19th of Tevet a ceremony is held at his tomb, Egypt, often attended by hundreds of devotees,[1] many travelling from Israel.[3] The tomb is an official antiquity site protected by the government of Egypt.[4] Some Egyptians have protested against permitting Jews to enter Egypt to make the annual pilgrimage to Rabbi Abuhatzeira's tomb.[5][6]

He is the grandfather of Rabbi Yisrael Abuhatzeira, also known as the Baba Sali, a revered rabbi and kabbalist whose tomb in Netivot is one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in Israel.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c Ravid, Barak (30 December 2009). "Mubarak to allow Jewish pilgrims to visit famous rabbi's tomb". Haaretz. http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/mubarak-to-allow-jewish-pilgrims-to-visit-famous-rabbi-s-tomb-1.1132. Retrieved 2011-02-16. 
  2. ^ "Pilgrims arrive at Delta village to commemorate 19th century Jewish rabbi". Almasry Alyoum. 26 December 2010. http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/news/pilgrims-arrive-delta-village-commemorate-19th-century-jewish-rabbi. Retrieved 2011-02-16. 
  3. ^ "Israelis flock to rabbi's tomb in Egypt". The Jerusalem Post. 9 January 2007. http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishFeatures/Article.aspx?id=47550. Retrieved 2011-02-16. 
  4. ^ Lipton, Edward P. (2002). Religious Freedom in the Near East, Northern Africa and the Former Soviet States. New York: Nova Publishers. p. 18. ISBN 9781590333907. http://books.google.com/books?id=43_j4vdkk5MC&pg=PA18. Retrieved 2011-02-16. 
  5. ^ Miller, David E. (28 December 2010). "Israeli pilgrims to Egyptian grave met with hostility" (Reprint). The Media Line. http://www.allheadlinenews.com/briefs/articles/90028915?Israeli%20pilgrims%20to%20Egyptian%20grave%20met%20with%20hostility. Retrieved 2011-02-16. 
  6. ^ "Cairo Airport prepares for Israeli pilgrims". Al-Ahram. 26 December 2010. http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/0/2674/Egypt/Cairo-Airport-prepares-for-Israeli-pilgrims-.aspx. Retrieved 2011-02-16.