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The Broadsheet is an “Important Announcement” from the Society for the Preservation of the Memorials of the Tombstones of the Righteous in Erez Israel, which has the support of the leading rabbis in both Israel and outside of Israel. The broadsheet informs that on 15 Tamuz, there will be a celebration on the completion of the marker and fence about the grave of R. Hayyim ibn Attar, author of the holy work, Or ha-Hayyim on the Torah, and also of R. Yom Tov Jacob Algazi, author of the commentary Bekhorot ve-Hallah. They bless all who travel to join them in for this holy purpose and their families too, as stated by the gaon, R. Azariah Figo (1579–1647) in his Giddulei Terumah and in his derashot in Binah le-Ittim, that one should do accts of kindness for the dead, for they look to offer recompense. The broadsheet concludes with a strong protest against those individuals who, unconcerned with the shame of these holy righteous ones, undermine and curse the holy purpose of the Society’s work; they should be ashamed and abashed because of their negative deeds.
R. Hayyim ben Moses ibn Attar (1696–1743), born in Sale Morocco, was one of the most prominent rabbis in that country. He resettled in Israel, stopping in Livorno, Italy on the way, where where he founded a yeshivah. In Erez Israel, R. ibn Attar founding the Midrash Keneset Israel Yeshivah and wrote several works, most notably the Or ha-Hayyim (Venice, 1742), a commentary on the Pentateuch, often republished with the biblical text. This work, of immense popularity and influence, made up of all four parts of “Pardes” is read along with the weekly Torah portion in many communities. Among his students was R. Hayyim Joseph David Azulai (Hida, 1724–1806). A hasidic legend relates that the Ba’al Shem Tov attempted to go to the Holy Land to have the merit of studying under the saintly Or ha-Hayyim.
R. Yom Tov ben Israel Jacob Algazi (1727–1802), kabbalist and halakhist, was a member of the Ahavat Shalom group of kabbalists and a signatory to several of its articles of association. His works are distinguished by their sharpness and depth. They are: Hilkhot Yom Tov, printed with the Vilna Talmud, on Hilkhot Bekhorot ve-Hallah by Nahmanides, which he found in a manuscript in Italy (1795); Simhat Yom Tov, responsa (1794); Kedushat Yom Tov, responsa and sermons (1843); Get Mekushar, studies on the marriage contract, in Ne’ot Ya’akov (1767), 24–79.
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