As the Jewish world prepares for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Chaim ben Attar, the holy Or HaChaim, we must ask ourselves: What is the secret of this Tzadik’s enduring power? In the latest episode of the Shuva Israel Podcast, Rabbi Moshe Yoel Pinto, Shlita, explains that the Or HaChaim provides a unique gift—the ability to see G-d’s presence where others only see darkness.
The Law of the Tzadik
Rabbi Moshe Yoel reveals a staggering heavenly reality: On the day of a Tzadik’s passing, the Almighty honors him by ruling in the Heavenly Court according to that Tzadik’s specific opinion. The Or HaChaim’s entire life was dedicated to finding merit for Israel and speaking of our virtues. This week, the gates are open for us to ask for mercy based on that “Ruling of Merit.”
The Loophole of Sustenance
The Rabbi decodes the famous phrase: “The whole world is sustained for the sake of Chanina My son.” He links this to a law in Tractate Sanhedrin regarding monetary loans. Earthly courts waive strict cross-examination in money cases “so as not to close the door to borrowers.”
G-d applies this same mercy to us. He gives us sustenance and “loans” of abundance even when we lack merits, so that we have the resources to eventually “repay” Him through Teshuvah and good deeds.
The Upgraded Yetzer Hara
Using Parashat Balak as a blueprint, the Rabbi warns against the “Midian Strategy.” The Evil Inclination has evolved; it no longer just offers you forbidden pleasures. Instead, it tricks you into committing sins—like humiliating others or seeking honor—under the guise of a “Holy Mitzvah.”
In the months of Tammuz and Av, we must guard our “Sight” and “Hearing.” The Rabbi notes that these are the only senses that can be “blurry.” We must strive for the clarity found in the Or HaChaim’s Torah, which removes the “sun” of the ego so that the “stars” of our internal holiness can finally be revealed.
This week, let us stand with the confidence of the Or HaChaim. No matter your past, today is a new beginning. Your holiness has never left you.
🎧 Listen to the full masterclass on the Shuva Israel Podcast:
Stay connected. Stay holy. Shuva Israel.
