The Wonders of Harav Yitzchack Kadouri

102 Fighting assimilation Yosef Yitzchak ben Chamu tells us his story. Growing up in France, he had met and dated a non-Jewish girl, and found it very dif¿cult to part ways. He approached the Rav and asked for a blessing. The Rav gave him a handwritten amulet, and told him to give it to the girl and then run away, without turning back. Back in France, Yosef gave her the amu- let and did run away, but unfortunately his crush on her drew him back, like a lost soul. For four years he continued like this, until he returned once again to the house of the Rav. Tensely anticipating the meeting with the Rav, he asked one of the Rav’s attendants to tell the Rav his name. The Rav responded by passing a message back. “Tell him that starting now, until tomorrow afternoon, he should fast. He should also ask ten of his family members to fast for him. Then he should return for a blessing, for now he has been born anew.” Those close to the Rav asked him what he meant by being born anew, but the Rav did not disclose any details. All they could glean from Yosef Yitzchak was his name and his unmarried status. The next day, Yosef Yitzchak came to receive his blessing, after ful¿lling the Rav’s directives. Since then he has only seen the beauty of being Jewish and living a more hallowed life, abandoning his non-Jewish girl friend. He now enjoys the company of his family, whom he had severed contact with as a result of that relationship. Wearing two pairs of tefillin The revealed aspects of the Rav’s life were only the tip of the iceberg of his hidden character. His sanctity and greatness were hidden from sight, often merely a miniscule fraction uncovered, while the bulk remained concealed. (ven when asked a question, he would answer to the point, without exposing his vast ar- ray of knowledge on the subject. I, the author, can testify to this. One mor- ning, in the Jerusalem summertime, the Rav called me over and pointed Many secrets were revealed to him