Klal Yisroel sang a special Shirah upon learning of the hidden miracle Hashem performed for them as they passed through the mountains of Arnon. The Emorim lay in ambush, hoping to destroy the nation as they crossed the canyon, but Hashem caused the mountains on both sides to come together, crushing the would-be attackers and saving the Jewish people.
One of the great Kabbalists of Aram Sova (Aleppo, Syria) who immigrated to the Holy Land around the turn of the 20th century was Chacham Rabbi Aharon Tawil zt”l. The Sephardic Tawil family traces its ancestry back to the great Eli HaKohen, the Kohen Gadol who was cursed by a prophet from Heaven that all his male descendants would die before reaching old age and would be placed in positions subservient to prophets from other lineages. Most of the Tawil family were originally named “HaKohen” and died young. They were renamed Tawil many years ago by a great rabbi who blessed them with a longer life expectancy. Tawil means “long” in Arabic.
Chacham Aharon Tawil anonymously authored a work in 1913 called Sefer Yissachar U’Zevulun, in which he sought to show the importance of supporting Torah scholars and institutions. It includes passages from the holy Zohar, Tikkunei Zohar, and Midrashim in praise of one who reaches the stature of supporting those who study Torah. Toward the end of his life, he settled in Yerushalayim and was beloved by the community for his scholarship, extreme piety, and modesty. He spent his days and nights in the Kabbalah yeshivah, Shaar HaShamayim, and received support from that institution as well.
The Chacham was known for his unusually long davening. Long after everyone else in the minyan had finished, Chacham Aharon was still standing ramrod straight in his customary place, pouring out his heart in prayer. Almost every day, he was the last person to leave the synagogue, as the rest of the congregation had long since departed.
Somehow, a local Arab vagrant became aware of the tzadik’s routine. He could not contain his innate hostility toward Jews – perhaps he even saw it as his religious duty. He intended to do harm to the venerable Jewish scholar.
For a few days, he watched and plotted. It was obvious that the Chacham would remain in prayer for a long time, and the Arab decided to kill the Jew as he stood in place. He saw it as revenge on behalf of his downtrodden Arab brethren. It shouldn’t be too hard, he reasoned. On most days, the synagogue emptied out, and this rabbi was the only one still inside. It would not be difficult to enter quietly and shoot the rabbi – who didn’t even move a muscle – with his pistol. Nobody would see him, and no one would ever find out who did it.
On the day of action, the Arab hid around the corner and waited until every last person had left the synagogue. He entered a side door cautiously and looked around to make sure there was nobody else. When he was sure he was alone with the rabbi, he crept forward, stopping a few rows behind the Chacham’s usual place. As usual, Chacham Aharon stood there, straight-backed, eyes closed, lips moving quietly, completely immersed in prayer. He did not hear a thing, nor did he sense any danger.
The Arab drew his pistol and cocked it. Still, the Chacham did not move – he clearly hadn’t heard a thing.
The attacker raised the weapon, aimed it at the rabbi’s head, and pulled the trigger. A mighty explosion filled the room – but miraculously, the bullet missed its mark. At the exact moment the gun fired, Chacham Aharon began to bow as he said the words, “Modim anachnu Lach.” Oblivious to the deadly threat just feet away, he bent his knees and bowed to give thanks to his Creator, just as the Sages had instituted thousands of years ago. The bullet passed harmlessly above his head, missing him by mere millimeters.
Shocked, the Arab could not believe the rabbi had escaped death in such astonishing fashion. But the sound of the explosion had drawn attention, and people began rushing into the synagogue. The attacker had no time to reload and fire again – he fled in disbelief, shaken by the realization that the G-d of Israel protects His beloved.
Rabbi Dovid Hoffman is the author of the popular “Torah Tavlin” book series, filled with stories, wit and hundreds of divrei Torah, including the brand new “Torah Tavlin Yamim Noraim” in stores everywhere. You’ll love this popular series. Also look for his book, “Heroes of Spirit,” containing one hundred fascinating stories on the Holocaust. They are fantastic gifts, available in all Judaica bookstores and online at http://israelbookshoppublications.com. To receive Rabbi Hoffman’s weekly “Torah Tavlin” sheet on the parsha, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
