On the occasion of the Yahrzeit (anniversary of death) of our teacher Rav Yitzchak ben Walid, the Torah-Box team is happy to present you with a brief overview of his life. He who speaks of a Tzaddik on the day of his Yahrzeit, the latter will pray for him. Light a candle and say, 'Lichvod HaRav Ben Walid, zechuto Tagen aleinu' and then pray. May his merit protect all of Klal Yisroel. Amen!

Rav Yitzchak Ben Walid was born in 1777 in a town of Sages and scribes, named Tetuan (capital of the northern region of Morocco where a Jewish community of Spanish origin lived. The community had settled there after the expulsion of the Spanish Jews. They had preserved their unique and ancient Spanish language, as Ladino of the Balkan Jews.) Rav Yitzchak came from a family of Rabbanim, and his father was the Chacham, Rabbi Shem Tov.

He bore the name of his grandfather, Rav Yitzchak.

Since his childhood, it could be seen that he was destined to become a great man. Thus, even before he reached the age of Bar-Mitzvah, he was immersed in the study of Torah and from his youth, signs of purity and holiness could be seen emanating from him.

While still young, Yitzchak lost his father. He lived with the rest of his family in precarious conditions.

Daddy's Talmud

It is said that after his father's death, the burden of providing for the family rested on the shoulders of his mother who worked hard to bring bread to her many children. One day, while the family was in a very difficult situation, his mother was forced to sell the Shas (Talmud) of her deceased husband so that, in return, she could buy bread for her children. Young Yitzchak, who realized his mother's pain, decided to put aside penny by penny to buy back his father's Shas.

11 Children

At the age of 17, he was already a scholar. He had assimilated vast knowledge in Torah and Halacha so that all the Sages of the generation had noticed him and were convinced that he would reach great heights. At 18, he married a daughter of the Kedoshim family. She gave birth to their eldest son, but soon after, she died and he was widowed with a young child. A few years later, he remarried a woman by the name of Simcha Vidal Bibas, an exceptional Rebbetzin. She helped and supported him in his divine service and she gave birth to ten children, all of whom were great Torah scholars. Their family of thirteen lived in poverty and owned the bare minimum. His livelihood came from the drafting of contracts and the synagogue he ran.

Modesty Assured

Rav Yitzchak Ben Walid was known for his great modesty and he refused many posts that were offered to him. Thus, not wishing to be named Rav of his city, he left Tetuan and settled in Gibraltar. The Tetuan community sent delegates to Gibraltar to convince him to return and to beg him to become their Rav. It was only after seeing in a dream that he was to take this position, that he accepted to become their Rav, and for 40 years, he held the positions of Rav and Av Beth-Din of Tetuan. In spite of his high position, he always remained modest, pleasant and kind, answering any question of Halacha that was posed to him.

He was a great leader and he demonstrated unparalleled dedication to his community members, especially to the needy, widows and orphans.

He was very fond of Eretz Israel, and it is said that he was eager to acquire any information about the land of Israel. Moreover, he made Aliyah and settled in Haifa, however when people tried to bring him into a quarrel, he decided to return to the Diaspora. He generously helped those who came from Eretz Israel to raise funds.

A Miraculous Stick

Rav Yitzchak had a stick that he used as a cane and which had been handed down within his family from generation to generation. This staff was renowned for the wonders it did to heal certain diseases as well as to ensure an easy birth. Many stories have been told about the stick that healed the sick that no one else had managed to heal. In addition, he had helped several women who had complications during their deliveries and who had been saved through the blessing of Rav Yitzchak.

Rav Yitzchak wrote many holy writings and several books, the most famous of which is entitled "Vayomer Yitzchak", a collection of questions and answers to which Rabbi Chaim Shmuel affirmed his statement by using praiseworthy terms to describe Rav Yitzchak. He brought awareness about Rav Yitzchak’s greatness in Torah and defined him as a "great crown of Torah", one of the last of the great assembly, "Sabba Demishpatim".

The Tzaddik Baba Meir Abuchatzeira testified that he had never felt similar holiness to the one he felt at the tomb of the holy and revered Rav Yitzchak Ben Walid. At the age of 93, he was very weak and he began to learn only the treatise of Kedoshim and Taharot. Even when he was bedridden during the last 3 weeks of his life, he wanted to have a Minyan. At the beginning of Shabbat, he surrendered his soul to his Creator while his lips murmured the verses of the Psalm "Mizmor Shir Leyom Hashabbat".

He died on 9 Adar 1870. Every year, on this date, one celebrates his Yahrzeit at his tomb in Tetuan as well as in Israel. May his merit protect us. Amen.