The Wonders of Harav Yitzchack Kadouri

192 wisdom and expounding on its principles, but he also became the symbol of truth. Whatever we may discover and recognize as being part of this world of truth, the Rav represented by his very presence. His greatness in the wisdom of Kabbalah does not require me or the likes of me to verify its authenticity. His teachers and colleagues from more than thirty years ago knew of the Rav’s greatness, they attested to it. What is left for us to describe is his personi¿cation of truth. Those who were close to him, who saw his character, can testify. Here was someone over 110 years old, without ever having any arguments, anger, jealousy, hatred, or vexation, towards anyone. His way was kindness and truth, selÀess love for each and every Jew, and total dedication to their needs. The Rav received the blessing of the Ben Ish Chai for longevity, but no blessing in the world can accomplish more than what his character traits did. His trait of happiness, what an amazing attribute he had… Even in his last years, beset with terrible suffering and extremely old, he still smiled and was happy. He rejoiced over every word of Torah. Rabbosei! To be a Kabbalist is not only to know the Holy Zohar, the works of the Arizal or the Rashash, how to write amulets or practice practical mysticism. Kabbalah is ¿rst and foremost the wisdom of how one should act, how one should serve G-d, how one should be humble. The truly great are truly humble. What humility he displayed, how righteous he was, how much he loved his fellow Jew! He accustomed himself throughout his entire life according to the custom of the sages of Iraq (Babylon of old) , not bene¿ting from others, subsisting on the proceeds from his own craft, binding books. Harav Yitzchak Nissim once told me that he used The doctors gave up all hope… Harav Yaakov Hillel shlita