Suddenly, flashbacks from my youth came back to me, and I couldn't hold back my tears.

20 August 2023   

On the eve of Rosh Chodesh Elul - the month of mercy and forgiveness - I made my way to the ancient Jewish cemetery in Haifa, according to the custom in Jerusalem to go to the cemetery on the eve of Rosh Chodesh Elul. In my youth, I wrote an entire essay about these exalted days, and I read the book found in the manuscript 'Shuva Yisrael'. Since then, I have become very attached to the book 'Mata Ephraim' about these days, and this is how it writes about the importance of going to the graves of the righteous on these days: "It is also customary to go to the graves after the morning prayer to prostrate themselves on the graves of the righteous. Some surround the graves and give alms there to the poor, and make many supplications, to arouse the holy righteous who are in the land, so that they may intercede for us on the Day of Judgment; and also because it is the burial place of the righteous, the place is holy and pure, and prayer is most acceptable since it is on holy ground. And he who prostrates himself on the graves of the righteous should not direct his gaze towards the dead who dwell there, but should ask God, blessed be He, to have mercy on him for the sake of the righteous who dwell in the dust" (Mata Ephraim, Siman Tikafa). In the additions, in the margins of the page, under the name "Aleph HaMagen" he added: "It is a great privilege to prostrate oneself on the graves of the righteous. And it is written in the books that the main time for prostrating on the graves of the righteous is on the eve of the 15th of Elul and the eve of the 15th of Elul. And prostrating on the graves of the righteous is very good and beneficial for several matters, and through this one can gain true repentance, and be saved from all troubles, both physical and spiritual" (Alef HaMagen, Sec. 1). Although I live today in the city of Nesher, near the city of Haifa, I have a deep emotional connection to this place - the House of Life, where Rav Avdimi Daman Haifa is buried. When I was a child in Haidar, "Toldot Aharon," there was a struggle when they wanted to pave the railway lines and a road over the remains of the House of Life, which was in ruins. I remember our annual trip in the 25th of Elul when we traveled to the place, and we saw the construction of the tombs, in what remained there, so that there would be a sign of a cemetery and they would not dare to damage the tombs. We were small and innocent children, we stood on the altar of Rabbi Avdimi Daman of Haifa and wept with tears of joy: "A Psalm of Asaph, O God, the nations have come into your inheritance, they have defiled your holy temple... We have given the carrion of your servants as food for the birds of the heavens, the flesh of your saints for the life of the earth... We have become a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and a derision to those around us." We cried and prayed: "How long, O Lord, will you endure? Will you burn like the fire of your jealousy... Will the groaning of a prisoner come before you, according to the greatness of your seed, the remnant of the sons of death..." We asked for a light: "And our seven dwellings will return to their own bosom, the reproach they have despised, O Lord. And we will be your people and the sheep of your pasture, a pledge to you forever, from generation to generation we will declare your praise... Help us, O God, save us for the glory of your name, and deliver us, and atone for our sins for your name's sake." The prayers and active work did their part, they renovated the place, and saved what remained to be saved, and to this day we can say: "Blessed is he who gave the place to the guardians." The place is being cultivated and beautified, and today it is bustling with people praying in a holy place, all under the scepter and honest and innocent activity of the dear Rabbi Yitzhak Abovitz, from the Pari Hasidim Gur in Haifa. It moved me. I stood there and said the fourth day of Psalms, and Psalm 9, and suddenly flashbacks from my youth came back to me, and I could not hold back or stop my tears. Every time I come to the place, I just want to hug our Rabbi Yitzhak, and go out dancing with him. Congratulations! Your merit is very great, and may God help you with divine help and much success.