CHASSID, TORAH SCHOLAR, AND TIRELESS PUBLIC SERVANT

Rabbi Yaakov Mizrachi a”h was a fascinating personality. He came from the “Sha’arayim” transit camp, grew up in the Yemenite community, became involved in communal work in the Ashkenazi Agudath Israel until he came to Chabad. * The book Dorach Kochav M’Yaakov is a biography of the writer and askan, R’ Yaakov Mizrachi.   

Rabbi Yaakov Mizrachi’s sons, all Chabad Chassidim. Right to left: R’ Eliezer, R’ Shmuel, R’ Shlomo, R’ Yosef, R’ Binyamin, R’ Moshe a”h. Not in the picture: R’ Dovid, may Hashem avenge his blood, and R’ NachumRabbi Yaakov Mizrachi combined Torah and askanus (communal activism), and was moser nefesh for the Jewish people, drawing them close to their Father in heaven.

He devoted decades of his life to communal causes on behalf of immigrants from the Eidot HaMizrach (Eastern communities, i.e., Sephardim) . Over the years he held important roles such as: director of the Eidot HaMizrach department of Agudath Israel, deputy mayor of Rechovot, Knesset member, deputy chairman of the national center of Agudath Israel, and more. But all these were only the official functions in his nonstop work which began when he was a young married man.

Along with being a talented askan, he was a big Torah scholar who devoted his life to learning Nigleh and Nistar of Torah, despite his busy day, as the Rebbe wrote about him, using a rare expression, “yosheiv ohalim” (one who dwells in tents [of Torah]).

THE EARLY DAYS

Rabbi Yaakov Mizrachi was born in 5780/1920 in the “Sha’arayim” neighborhood of Rechovot. His father was Rabbi Dovid Mizrachi, a Torah scholar and public askan who emigrated from Yemen about ten years before the birth of his son. R’ Yaakov’s work with immigrants from Eidot HaMizrach began while the British were still ruling Eretz Yisroel and intensified during the great aliya following the War of Independence, when the circumstances of the immigrants were quite dismal.

Upon witnessing the hardships that faced the new immigrants, his heart went out to them. He began going out to do outreach in the transit camps that were quickly going up all around the country, especially the ones that housed the newly arrived Yemenite immigrants. In those days, a campaign of tremendous pressure to compel their secularization was launched against them. R’ Mizrachi did not allow himself to rest; by day and by night, in summer and winter, in the heat and the cold, he would undertake difficult and long trips in order to fight for the souls of the immigrants and to bring the word of Hashem to every place.

Wherever he visited, he spoke to the people and worked to persuade them to continue to maintain kashrus and family purity, and to send their children to religious schools and not allow themselves to be seduced by the attempts to get them to abandon their religious practice that were being carried out by the government. In his powerful talks to these Jews, he would often cry out to them from the depths of his heart, “Jews of the Rambam, the Beis Yosef, Rabi Sholom Shabazi, where are you?”

In the beginning, he would travel from place to place on the scooter that he bought with money that his wife had saved up over a long period of time. However, when he had to travel to distant locations, he would use public transportation, which was not yet properly developed, so that many a time he would be stuck in the place where he had gone, since he had no way to return home that day. And so, often he would be gone from home days and nights, without any concern for his energies or time. Despite the tremendous exertions involved, he continued to travel constantly to any place necessary in order to save souls.

His goal was not only to encourage and strengthen the people, but to enroll the children of the immigrants into Torah schools to enable them to continue to lead lives of Torah and mitzvos, as they had been accustomed in their countries of origin.

OVER THE FENCE

The scope of activities that he carried out in the immigrant transit camps demanded tremendous effort. It usually entailed exhausting battles with people from the Jewish Agency who wanted to secularize the new immigrants and consequently, did not allow outsiders, mitzva observant people, to enter the transit tent cities or camps. Nevertheless, R’ Mizrachi did not give up. More than once, he climbed the fences in order to get in.

Frequently, when he tried to convince the immigrants to put their children into religious schools, he saw that the Agency had already bribed the naive immigrants with promises of jobs and the provision of clothes and shoes for the entire family, so long as they did not put their children into religious schools.

His relative and good friend, Rabbi Yitzchok Cohen of Rechovot, joined him in his work with immigrants. “We had a special personal bond. For many years we were together in shul, at work at the carpentry shop and I joined him on long trips to the transit camps in order to save immigrants. I remember how we went to the transit camp in Rosh HaAyin where many Yemenite immigrants were sent, but they forbade us from entering and speaking to the immigrants. R’ Mizrachi wasn’t fazed by anything and when it grew dark, we jumped over the fence and went in.”

R’ Mizrachi fought against the secularization program and his influence on the naive immigrants was powerful. He managed to convince them to refuse to work on Shabbos and some were even convinced not to send their children to kibbutzim in fear for their spiritual futures. He often was able to thwart the accomplishments of the Agency that had already convinced the immigrants to send their children to kibbutzim. When they realized that R’ Mizrachi was the one who was ruining their plans, they had the nerve to adopt a “less than gentlemanly” approach.

The directors of the camp actually planned an attempt on his life for when he would appear again. They tried this three times, as his son R’ Binyamin describes:

“The directors of the transit camp threatened my father outright that if he dared show up again, they would finish him off. They once even set a trap for him, which prevented him from returning home since he heard they were planning to ambush him. And yet, he continued working with all his might.”

His conscience, the inner cry of his heart and his G-dly soul directed him toward the goal: to save the children of the Eidot HaMizrach from spiritual deterioration and to do everything so they would continue on the path of their fathers and elders.

His efforts were not for naught. Wherever new immigrants were settled, he managed to establish a religious education framework which built the future of b’nei Torah for the next generation of Eidot HaMizrach. Other who worked in the field were amazed by the thousands of students that he brought to those institutions where they learned al taharas ha’kodesh, and with whom he was in close contact.

THE WORK BECOMES OFFICIAL

R’ Mizrachi’s success among the immigrants from Eidot HaMizrach led to the leaders of Agudath Israel appointing him as the director of the Eidot HaMizrach department of Agudath Israel in 5717. The activities that he carried out with such intensiveness, were now formalized with a respected and formal job title.

In the following months, R’ Mizrachi traveled all over the country to participate in gatherings of spiritual revival, as was publicized at the time in Hamodia:

“With great satisfaction, the news was received by all the communities within the movement that Rabbi Yaakov Mizrachi, member of the administration of the Rechovot branch, began work in his new position working for the movement in the department for Eidot HaMizrach … In his first days on the job he already visited over ten transit camps and settlements for new immigrants and in each place he spoke with rabbanim, askanim and activists in order to mobilize them to strengthen Torah and Judaism among the Eidot HaMizrach with the promise of help from Agudath Israel for this holy, important goal. In every place he was received with great enthusiasm. All noted with great satisfaction the fact that Agudath Israel appointed a special man from among the Eidot HaMizrach for this important purpose.”

The article goes on to enumerate the camps and yishuvim he visited and the many activities he managed to do already at the start of his official job:

“Among other things, he visited Kfar Ana near Sekiya where he was able to organize shiurei Torah … He also visited the Yemenite neighborhood near Nes Tziyona and provided them with assistance from the synagogue assistance fund for Eidot HaMizrach and monetary aid for shiurei Torah. At the Nachalat Yehuda transit camp, he inspected the state of the religious educational facilities in the place …” And the list goes on to enumerate another camp and another yishuv.

Next to this item there was a report about a meeting that took place in Rechovot, which was attended by some of the secretaries of branches in the southern sector. The purpose of the meeting was to improve the administration of the branches and to strengthen religion among the Eidot HaMizrach. “R’ Yaakov Mizrachi who recently visited all the camps and settlements of the new immigrants in the area gave a detailed report about what he found and what he did.” Following his report, plans were discussed as to how to proceed on a broad scale.

In the next phase, R’ Mizrachi expanded his work to the north of the country too. He spent nights in the homes of activists and mekuravim.

R’ Mizrachi devoted much effort to developing the Eidot HaMizrach department and within just a few months it became a beehive of activity. The following is a report that he sent at the end of Adar II 5717, about half a year after the Eidot HaMizrach department was established:

“Summary of our activities during the first three months:

We now have 13 branches in various places, where we have succeeded in setting up operations.

One of the basic activities is having shiurei Torah after Maariv, daily, in most branches.

Shiurei Torah for schoolchildren and even for those from secular schools during the afternoon.

Clubs for students at schools so they don’t go to secular clubs.

Rosh Chodesh parties at nearly all the branches with lectures on timely matters.

Acquiring tashmishei k’dusha (Jewish ritual items) from the Religions Ministry, some at a discount and some for free.

[…]

It should be noted that, boruch Hashem, the activities are quite blessed, however there is the possibility of great and impressive things except that the fistful does not satiate the lion (i.e., the funds are inadequate). If we can increase the budget, then we can expand more and more. There is a large field open to activities, and ears that are receptive to what we do.”

In the next stages, R’ Mizrachi continued his work while focusing on saving the young generation and registering them in Torah institutions. He went from place to place to register more and more students for religious education.

During the registration drive, he was hardly ever at home. He would be out on long travels until the wee hours of the night, working hard to persuade and encourage parents to send their children to religious schools. He also helped open new schools in areas where there was a demand. “There is not a single Chinuch Atzmai school around the country in which R’ Mizrachi did not have a hand,” said Knesset member, Rabbi Menachem Porush a”h, one of the leaders of the Agudath Israel party. Thanks to his work, schools were founded in distant places which produced upstanding men and women.

FIERY SPEECHES

One of the tools that he used to inspire was his unusual oratorical powers. His speeches flowed from the depths of his heart. R’ Mizrachi was a gifted orator who spoke loudly and articulately, and he spoke with tremendous poignancy with which he kept thousands riveted. Till today, there are many who remember his inspiring speeches. With incisive words, he made it very clear how to strengthen oneself in Torah and avodas Hashem. His speeches were delivered with a rich vocabulary and numerous quotes from Tanach, Gemara and sifrei kabbala. He loved to weave together quotes from midrashim and Zohar, usually cited word for word, which earned him the admiration of rabbanim and Torah scholars. All this came together in unique fashion, causing people to listen to him and internalize what he said.

Not surprisingly, many of the immigrants listened to him and sent their children to religious schools, despite the threats they got from the Agency people.

There were some who had already agreed to send their children to kibbutzim, and then changed their minds thanks to his impassioned pleas.

WORKING FOR S’FARIM

R’ Mizrachi’s connection with Chabad and the Rebbe began in his youth. It actually started with his father, R’ Dovid Mizrachi, who was a Torah scholar.

R’ Yaakov’s mother, Shoshana, worked in the home of a Russian family. She did not ask for monetary pay but for the s’farim on the shelves. The family wasn’t interested in them and so the arrangement worked for both sides.

Every so often, she would return home with volumes of Talmud on her head, until she was able to bring home every volume of Talmud, which helped her husband and son learn Torah. Aside from that, she also obtained old s’farim, including sifrei kabbala and Chassidus. Among the old s’farim was a Tanya from one of the earliest printings, as well as a Torah Ohr.

R’ Dovid Mizrachi examined these s’farim and was drawn to them. Later, his son Yaakov continued learning in these Chassidic works. This was the family’s first encounter with Chabad Chassidus.

THE NEW YEMENITE LUBAVITCHERS

The years passed and in the summer of 5712, R’ Yaakov deliberated over which yeshiva to send his oldest son, Yosef. In those days, the choice of yeshivos in Eretz Yisroel was rather limited.

Just at that time, seven of the talmidim from the Chabad yeshiva in Lud came, all of them immigrants or children of Yemenite immigrants, to spend Shabbos in his neighborhood. During Shabbos, the bachurim dispersed to the shuls and repeated divrei Torah and Chassidus. People were surprised by the band of young lecturers. Their Jewish appearance was impressive: the beginnings of beards, curled peios, a dark suit under which could be seen long tzitzis.

R’ Yaakov enjoyed seeing bachurim with beards and without excessive hair on their heads. R’ Mizrachi, who was so devoted to the idea of pure Torah education, was very taken by their refined appearance. The divrei Torah that were said also made a strong impression on him. He decided to send his oldest son to Tomchei T’mimim in Lud. This decision was a fateful one for many of his descendants, and for generations to come.

As a result of that Shabbos, it was decided to send a delegation of leaders of the Yemenite community to the Chabad yeshiva in Lud to see what it was about. The rav of the community, Rabbi Meir Chai Mizrachi, the mohel, shochet, and about ten Torah scholars were part of the delegation. R’ Mizrachi’s two oldest sons, Yosef and Binyamin, went along as well.

The members of the delegation were present at a study session of the yeshiva, and the shiurim of Rabbi Meilich Kaplan, Rabbi Shlomo Greenwald, and Rabbi Aryeh Brook. They were favorably impressed by the shiurim that they heard and were amazed by the passion for learning among the young students. As a sign of appreciation and admiration, R’ Meir Chai gave a sizable donation to the yeshiva. Then the members of the delegation toured the main study hall and the dormitory accommodations and were favorably impressed.

After the visit, Yosef Mizrachi was sent to learn in the yeshiva and over the years, his seven brothers attended it too. Other bachurim from the neighborhood joined the yeshiva out of which numerous Lubavitcher families were established.

The daughter Kaspit relates: “I remember that once my mother and grandmother visited the yeshiva in Lud and returned home in consternation. They told my father that the roof of the yeshiva leaked, and the physical conditions were inadequate. My father was not taken aback by their report and said that this is how they should learn Torah. He wanted his son to learn in this yeshiva no matter what.”

As part of the study track, his sons went to learn by the Rebbe over the years, as the Rebbe himself testified in a letter that he sent to R’ Yaakov Mizrachi (during the days of Slichos 5725). The Rebbe begins the letter with a string of important titles. Then the Rebbe writes: “Here is the place to express my pleasure and nachas from your offspring, those I have seen and those with whom I correspond. May it be the will that for length of days and good years, their parents should derive much nachas from them, true Jewish nachas.”

THE REBBE STOPPED A FARBRENGEN IN HONOR OF THE ASKAN

R’ Mizrachi went to the U.S. for the Chag Ha’Geula, 19 Kislev 5727, and visited the Rebbe. He walked into 770 in the middle of the farbrengen. The Rebbe stopped speaking and looked in his direction. Everyone turned to look. It was only after he sat down that the Rebbe continued speaking.

On this visit and subsequent visits to New York, R’ Mizrachi met with the Rebbe for relatively long meetings. They discussed numerous matters of public concern.

The strengthening of his connection with the Rebbe led R’ Mizrachi to accept a number of Chabad practices, and even to convey them to those who were under his influence.

SUDDEN PASSING

As mentioned, communal activism was a way of life for R’ Yaakov Mizrachi, and he was a dominant player in his field for so many years, until his untimely passing on 1 Elul 5740/1980 at the young age of 60. The chapter closed on his amazing work when he had a heart attack on his way to a meeting in Yerushalayim. A few days later, he passed away.

The eulogy of the Gerrer Rebbe, Rabbi Pinchas Menachem Alter (who was chairman of Agudath Israel in Eretz Yisroel at the time and rosh yeshiva of Sfas Emes) was quite moving:

“The prophet cries out, ‘Woe is to me… The pious man has been lost from the world, and there is no upright among men.’ This verse is the appropriate description of the tremendous void that was left upon the passing of Rabbi Yaakov Mizrachi zt”l. With his glowing personality, with his being a man of all talents, of many accomplishments, who worked with mesirus nefesh, he succeeded in generating the love and admiration felt for him by all his admirers and friends. He was not only a leader and great man of the people, whose position set him above the rest, whose public responsibilities raised him above the masses, but he was a special man who contained within such wondrous attributes that pushed him to the front of the camp. He was a talented askan with fear of G-d in his heart and the spirit of G-d beating within, to do good for others, to go out into the fields and to gather in the vineyards, to bring the word of Hashem to Jewish hearts, with mesiras nefesh and sublime self-sacrifice.”

The connection between R’ Yaakov Mizrachi and Chabad continues to this day, with many of his descendants counted among Chabad Chassidim, some of whom are rabbanim and shluchim around the world.