Rabbi Elazar Abu Chatzeira of Beer Sheva (the “Baba Elazar”), the grandson of the Baba Sali (Rabbi Yisrael AbuHatzeira), was recently killed at the age of 70, after being stabbed in the heart by a visitor known to him who ostensibly came for a bracha.
Rabbi Abu Chatzeira had a reputation as a tzaddik and was known to be a mekubal who brought great yeshuos to many people. Many Israeli politicians and businessman were known to consult with him often and ask his advice.
According to Israeli media reports the man who stabbed the rabbi has been identified as Asher Dahan from Elad, a Morrocan Jew, and is under arrest.
According to the Baba Elazars’ brother, the Baba Baruch, said according to Arutz Sheva, “Harsh punishments were decreed on the people of Israel, and he wanted to nullify them,” said the slain rabbi’s brother, Rabbi Baruch Abuhatzeira, also known as the Baba Baruch, speaking at Rabbi Abuhatzeira’s funeral.
Why someone would go and kill a revered Rabbi and Mekubal is beyond me. This is indeed a terrible tragedy. With Leiby Kletzky and now this, it’s a wonder what this world has come to.
An interesting tidbit, the last name “AbuHatzeira” was given to one of the Baba Sali’s great grandfathers (thanks David Bitton) as it means in Arabic “owner (Abu) of the carpet (Hatzeira).” According to legend (which was confirmed by hundreds of eye-witnesses), the Baba Sali’s great grandfather, a few hundred years ago, was not able to go on a ship from Morocco to Israel, so he sat on a carpet and the carpet stayed afloat by the waves of the sea, and he miraculously was floated to Israeli shores.