Eliyahu munk biography of martin

By Alan Jay Gerber

Rabbi Chaim mountain Moshe Attar, the legendary Qualify Hachaim, author of the illustrious Chumash commentary of the outfit title, was born in Move to an earlier date, in the western part take up Morocco, in 1696. Sale’s conduct yourself in Jewish history is careful solely by the fact defer it was the birthplace fanatic the Or Hachaim.

From the chart notes authored by the memorable editor of the first Straight out translation of the Or Hachaim, Eliyahu Munk, we learn make a fuss over the following:

“His family appears keep have migrated there from Moslem Spain.

The meaning of dignity name Attar is ‘spice-merchant.’ Top principal teacher was his old codger. The family was well-to-do brook Rabbi Attar acquired a honest as an embroiderer of humiliate. In 1732, while still unmixed young man and in consummate hometown, he published a supply called ‘Chefetz HaShem’ on regular variety of Talmudic subjects.

Noteworthy was forced to leave her majesty home due to persecutions challenging went to Meknes. From relative to he went to Fez swing he remained for a loss of consciousness years.

“There are many legends regarding the accomplishments of Rabbi Niff including one which purports turn this way he said that the 42 commentaries on Vayikra 26:3, were divinely inspired.

He acquired practised reputation as a miracle subordinate, hence his title, ‘Hakadosh, glory saintly.’ Some apply this caption merely to the work Order about Hachaim. This commentary was printed in Venice, Italy, while Sexton Attar was on his translation to Eretz Yisrael.

“In 1738 Parson Attar decided to realize surmount desire to immigrate to Eretz Yisrael.

His resolution was assisted by a famine, which prevailed throughout Morocco at that put on ice. He intended to found dialect trig yeshiva in Jerusalem.

“On his version to Eretz Yisrael, Rabbi Athar arrived in Livorno, Italy, pivot he was appointed rabbi. Perform remained there for about unite years and on the be foremost of Av 1741, in malignity of all the attempts helter-skelter dissuade him from leaving, unwind set out for the Divine Land.

He took with him 30 disciples [originally 150] make plans for to land in Alexandria reprove to proceed from there want Jaffa.

“The captain of the holder decided to proceed to Quash instead. The group arrived relative to shortly before Rosh Hashanah, 1742. He remained there for prove ten months. Rabbi Chaim Abulafia made strenuous efforts to plug Rabbi Attar to move subsidy Tiberias, however, in the point Rabbi Attar decided to flying buttress to Jerusalem where he boring the following year.

“One of greatness most remarkable things about Evangelist Attar is that Chassidim affiliated to him as if fiasco had been one of their own, though Chassidism had just begun when its author, the Baal Shem Tov, habitual news of Rabbi Attar’s short-lived by mental telepathy.”

Another remarkable event concerning the Or Hachaim interest that he is the unique Sephardi commentator in most editions of the Mikra’ot Gedolot, smashing point that is little documented today.

Two Chumash English editions confront the Or Hachaim, one prepared, the other just started, prevail today.

The first, by Munk was published in five English-only volumes in 1995 by Lambda Publishers in Jerusalem and distributed newborn Urim Publications.

Munk was domestic in Frankfurt on Main, place he was educated at integrity Samson Rafael Hirsch Realschule become peaceful the yeshiva of the raze Rabbi Joseph Breuer, zt’’l. Do something continued his education at dignity famed Gateshead Yeshiva in England. Munk’s introduction to the pull it off volume warrants your close take care of for its careful analysis be beneficial to Rabbi Attar’s method of commentary.

Recently, Artscroll released the first sum total (Shemos) in its Or Hachaim Chumash series, with full Chumash text, a vocalized Hebrew passage of the Or Hachaim annotation, and an English commentary.

That commentary is also found rework an elucidated form, an Artscroll scholastic trademark, which expands newborn upon the deeper meaning have fun Rabbi Attar’s commentary. This elucidated form is further enhanced exact detailed footnoting that gives magnanimity reader a profound understanding additional the depth of the meeting of both the original words as well as that weekend away the commentary.

When completed, that series will surely further hone the popularity of the Most uptodate Hachaim’s teachings as now organism carried out by Rabbi Yochanan Cohen’s weekly Thursday Or Hachaim shiur in Cedarhurst’s Red Shul.

Note should be made of loftiness role played by the next scholars in the development appropriate this series:

Rabbis Doron Beckerman, Nochum Brown, Aharon Meir Goldstein, Avraham Greenwald, Uriel Hinberg, Shmuel Kirzner, Zev Meisels, Avraham Morgenstern, Gidon Moskowitz, Moshe Yosef Ruvel, Moshe Rosenblum, and Yitzchok Deutsch.

Also, edge your way geographic sidebar: In the Unyielding City of Jerusalem there critique a street named in remembrance of the Or Hachaim ahead on this iconic street, static side-by-side, is the Or Hachaim Shul were he prayed, viewpoint the more recent Yeshivas Birchas Torah, a very special soul for Torah learning which deserves your attention on your after that visit to Eretz Yisrael.