Rabbi Shalom Shalom Sharabi (The Rashash)

The Rashash was born in Sana’a, Yemen’s capital. He emigrated to the Holy Land but decided to keep his greatness hidden from the public. Rabbi Sharabi went to the Bet-El yeshiva in Jerusalem where he asked Rabbi Gedalia Chayon, dean of the yeshiva, for a job as a shammash. Rabbi Gedalia gave him the work, which consisted of keep things in order and wake up the students for diverse prayers. Since it was a simple job, no one had a clue on who this great scholar was.

One day, a question arose in the hall of study with no answer. Rabbi Gedalia was very disappointed by not being able to find the answer. After all the students left, The Rashash, went and wrote the answer on one of Rabbi Gedalia’s books. The next day Rabbi Gedalia couldn’t believe it and he attributed it to divine providence but these acts continued to repeat themselves. One day, the Rosh Yeshiva’s daughter saw The Rashash leaving the note in the book and went straight to her dad’s. The Rashash had to admit his authorship and started to be revealed as the great Torah scholar he was.

After Rabbi Gedalia’s passing, the Rashash took the leadership of Bet El yeshiva at the age of 27. Among his students were the Maharit Algazi and The Chida, who later became Rosh Yeshivas themselves. Within the Rashash most remarkable texts are the commentary on the Etz Chaim and the Siddur HaRashash. The Rashash passed away the 10 of Shevat 5537 at the age of 57 in Jerusalem.

What great scholars said about The Rashash:

• “Whoever learns Etz Chaim without the Rashash commentary is like a blind man” -Rabbi Abulafia
• “The soul of the Rashash is that of the holy Ari” – Rabbi Chaim Pelaji
• “One can know by hear all of the writings of the Arizal but if you did not learn the works of the Rashash you have not yet entered into the study of Kabbalah” – Rabbi Kaduri

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