Los Salmos en Ladino

This is the entire Book of Psalms in the ladino language. It was printed in Constantinople, Turkey in 1885. The book has 217 pages and is small as books go measuring 4 1/4 x 6 inches.

Sefer eleh ha-Mitzvot

"Sefer eleh ha-Mitzvot", published in the year 1713 in Amsterdam.

Hilulah day II 27 of Adar Rabbi isaac Aboab da Fonseca

Isaac Aboab da Fonseca "The Hacham of Recife"

February 1st, 1605 -Portugal

April 4th, 1693- Holland

was a rabbi, scholar, kabbalist and writer.

In 1656, he was one of several elders within the Portuguese-Israelite community in the Netherlands who excommunicated Baruch Spinoza for the statements this philosopher made concerning (the nature of) God.

Isaac Aboab da Fonseca was born in the Portuguese town of Castro d'Ayre as Simao da Fonseca, a Christian name. His parents were Maranos, Jews who had forcefully been converted to Christianity. However, although the family had converted to Christianity, life was still to a great deal uncertain. When Isaac was seven, the family moved to Amsterdam. From that moment on, the family reconverted back to Judaism, and Isaac was raised Jewish from that moment on. Together with Manasseh ben Israel, he was given lessons by Isaac Uziel, a scholar.
At the age of 18, Isaac was appointed rabbi (chacham) for Beth Israel, one of three Sephardic communities which existed at that point in Amsterdam.

In 1642, Aboab da Fonseca was appointed rabbi at the Dutch colony of Pernambuco (Recife), Brazil. Most of the white inhabitants of the town were Sephardic Jews from Portugal who had been banned by the Inquisition to this town at the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. In 1624, the colony had been occupied by the Dutch. By becoming the rabbi of the community, Aboab da Fonseca was the first appointed rabbi of the Americas. However, during the time he was rabbi in Pernambuco, the Portuguese re-occupied the place again in 1654, after a struggle of nine years. Aboab da Fonseca managed to return to Amsterdam after the occupation of the Portuguese.
Back in Amsterdam, Aboab da Fonseca was appointed chief rabbi for the Sephardic community. In 1656, he was one of several scholars who excommunicated famous philosopher Baruch Spinoza. During the reign of Aboab da Fonseca, the community flourished; the Portuguese synagogue (the Esnoga) was inaugurated on August 2th 1675 (10 Menachem 5435).
On April 4th 1693, Isaac Aboab da Fonseca died at the age of 88 in Amsterdam.

http://www.sefarad.org/publication/lm/010/bresil.html

http://www.ourjerusalem.com/history/story/history20050830.html

http://cf.uba.uva.nl/nl/publicaties/treasures/text/t18.html

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/Brazil.html

http://www.jodensavanne.sr.org/article5.html

http://www.pousadapeter.com.br/judeusindex.htm

May the merit of the tzaddikim Hacham Isaac Aboab da Fonseca protect us all, Amen.

Purim: As practiced by Spanish and Portuguese Jews

Purim: As practiced by Spanish and Portuguese Jews

Shabbat Zakhor is marked by the complete recitation of the poem by Rabbi Yehuda Halevi entitled Mi kamokha, which is
inserted immediately after the words Mi kamokha in the Shacharit service before Mazil ani mehazak mimenu in the middle of the Nishmat. They do not consider this as an interruption in the prayer (hefsek). The concluding stanza in each chapter of the Mi kamokha is first chanted by the entire congregation, and then these four lines are repeated by the hazzan. The Sabbath of Parashat Zakhor is thus also referred to by the Spanish and Portuguese Jews as Shabbat Mi kamokha.

The reading of the megillah is a special occasion enhanced by the richly decorated cases in which the megillot are contained. Some of the megillah parchments are illuminated with decorative motifs or pictures illustrating the story of Esther. During the Megillah reading in Shearith Israel (which has long excluded from its services any disturbing or disrupting features, even on that evening), the reading of Purim story proceeds uninterrupted amidst a quietly relaxed, happily smiling congregation. The few who do knock with their feet at the mention of Haman's name are discouraged from doing so. This is in keeping with the overall spirit of decorous worship in the sanctuary at all times.

The hazzan who reads the Megillah is flanked by seganim on either side of him who help with the folding of the Megillah in the form of an iggeret (letter), as is traditional.

After the entire Megillah has been read, the hazzan repeats Layehudim hayeta ora vesimeha vesason vikar (Esther 8:16), the congregation repeats it after him, and then the Megillah is rolled up.

Following the reading of Megillah, the hazzan recites the berakha,Harab et ribenu and continues with arur Haman, to which the congregation responds, Barukh Mordekhay. He then says, Arura Zeresh , to which they respond, Barukha Esther. He continues with Arurim Hareshaim, to which the congregation replies, Berukhim Kol Yisrael. Then the Hazzan concludes with Vegan Harbona, to which the congregation responds, Zakhur letob.

The Sheheheyanu is recited only in the evening reading of the Megillah and not the following morning.

It was the tradition to provide money for the poor on Purim and to make a contribution to everyone who put out his hand on that day seeking aid. In addition, the traditional Mishloah manot are given to family and friends.

The Spanish and Portuguese tradition is devoid of the high- spirited fun and frolic which takes place among the other communities on this day. This is in keeping with the time-honored tradition of sedate observance for which Holland and the Spanish and Portuguese Jews have long been known.

An interesting difference between the American Spanish and Portuguese tradition and that of Holland is that here the Megillah is read in the morning, while the Sefer Torah remains on the teba. In Holland, the Sefer Torah is first returned to the ark, and only then is the Megillah read.

If Purim should fall on Saturday night, the Spanish and Portuguese tradition is to read the Megillah first and then recite Habdalah.

This differs from the tradition of other Sephardim, who follow the teaching of the Aburdarham in this matter.

When Purim starts on Saturday night, the service begins with LeDavid barukh and Lamenazzeah (Psalms 144 and 67), followed by Psalm 22, Lamenazzeah al ayelet hashahar mizmor leDavid.

The Spanish and Portuguese tradition follows that of all other Sephardim in repeating the last verse of Vayabo Amalek in the Torah reading in order to complete ten verses of the Torah, which is the minimum which one should be permitted to read from the Torah.

The mahazit hashekel is given on Purim in the evening or during the day by placing the money into the small boxes attached to the teba. There is no tradition of taking three coins and lifting them (to make a kinyan) for the mahazit hashekel, but they simply put money into the little boxes for charity.

Leilui Nishmat Clotilde Nicolau Pereira A"H

Leilui Nishmat Jose Simplicio da Silva A"H

Chumash in Ladino/Judeo-Spanish/Djudezmo/Espanyolit

Chumash in Ladino/Judeo-Spanish/Djudezmo/Espanyolit

5 books of the Torah, in Hebrew and Ladino translation. Printed in Constantinople ( Istanbul) 1880.

Hilulah Day: Shevat-4

Rabbi Yisrael Abuchatzeirah - The Baba Sali

Born: Tafillalt, Morocco,1890

Died: Israel, 1984

Popularly known as "Baba Sali" (our praying father).

Rabbi Yisrael Abuchatzeirah, was of a well-known rabbinical dynasty. His grandfather was the famous tzaddik, Rabbi Yaakov Abuchatzeirah. He had great skill in Talmudic interpretation and many of his halachic decisions were accepted and took root among his followers. He was regarded as someone who possessed the Ruach Hakodesh or "Divine Spirit". Although still very young, people flocked to R' Yisrael for blessings for their parnassa (income), family, and health. Consequently he became known as "Baba Sali," (our praying father) because of the prayers that he would invoke on behalf of those who sought out his guidance.


One day, young Yisrael's father told him, "My child, you have a great power to bless people which you cannot measure. Your words can bring great help to men. From now on, you must use this power to say good things about others and to bless them."


Young Yisrael gave his word. Soon it became known that the blessings of this young child brought miraculous results. He became famous as Baba Sali. A master of the Kabbalah and a great Torah Sage, he took over his father's position as head of the yeshiva and Rabbi of the community. Although he regularly gave many lectures in Torah and kabbalah, he did not permit his students to write them down because he wanted his scholarship to remain unknown. Nevertheless, his fame as a holy man and a righteous Tzaddik continued to draw Jews to him from all over. Even Arabs came to receive his blessings and the coins he gave for charity.
At 19 he was inducted as the Rosh Hayeshiva, after his father's death. After an extended one year trip to Erets Yisrael he returned, and was compelled to take the position of Rav of the kehilla (community) after the murder of his brother by an Arab. He gave daily lectures, served as a judge in the beit din (rabbinical court), and set the tone for the kehilla. The community appreciated that nothing escaped his holy, penetrating eyes. From throughout Morocco, people converged on his home for his brachot (blessings), his counsel, and his encouragement.
In 1964 when Baba Sali noted that much of Moroccan Jewry had emigrated to Eretz Yisrael, he followed them to fulfill his dream of settling there. Baba Sali chose Yavne as his home because many of his followers had settled there.


In 1970 he moved to Netivot where he was steadily visited by Chassidim, Ashkenazim and Sephardim who sought his unique counsel. He stressed emunah (faith), humility, ahavat Yisrael (love of fellow Jews) and kiyum hamitzvot (fulfillment of mitzvot). His phenomenal memory allowed him to access information at will, whether it dealt with law, Talmud, Kabbalah,etc.
He was very humble and did not want to attract attention, however, his prophetic powers and his miraculous prayers soon became renowned. Thousands of Jews from all over the world would come to seek his advice and blessings for children, health, and livelihood. Baba Sali was very close to other great Torah scholars, especially the Lubavitcher Rebbe , whom he referred to as "the Great Eagle in the Heavens." He strongly encouraged the Rebbe's Mitzvah campaigns, especially urging young girls to light candles for Shabbat and Yom Tov.


The Power of Prayer

A story of the Baba Sali as heard from R' Moshe Aharon Stern of Jerusalem

There was once a simple Israeli worker from Jerusalem, who, though he had been married a long time, had never been blessed with children. He had been to all the specialists, but to no avail. "Hair will grow on the palm of your hand before you see a child," the doctors had told him. After years of hope and despair, he had almost given up. Then he heard about the great miracles wrought by the prayers of Rabbi Israel Abuchatzira.


With an expectant heart, the man traveled several hours from Jerusalem to Netivot, to the home of the Baba Sali. When he arrived, he found a long line of petitioners already ahead of him, and had to wait hours before entering to receive a blessing. Finally, his turn arrived. He entered the tzaddik's room, nervous, eyes downcast, clutching a small piece of paper on which he had written his only request: Children! He sat down and placed the paper on the table before the Baba Sali. The tzaddik opened it, then put it down. "Matzav avud," was all he said. "A lost case." Before he could open his mouth, the man had been whisked out of the chamber by the attendants to make room for the next petitioner. Shocked, brokenhearted, he returned to his home.


The next day, however, when the people began lining up for blessings, there he was again. Again he waited several hours. Again he entered, put his slip of paper on the table, and again he heard the same terrible answer -- "a lost case." Yet, when the next day arrived, there he was again, and the next day again! Every single day, as long as the Baba Sali was receiving people for blessings, the man would be there in line, at times waiting hours. And always he would hear the same sad answer, "a lost case."


Finally, after almost a year, the family of the Baba Sali took pity on this man and approached the great saint with their request. "Rabbeinu Israel," they said, "this poor man has been coming to you for a year straight now, and every time you give him the same answer. Can't you tell him to stop coming already? It's much too heartbreaking to continue." "How long has it been?" Rabbi Abuchatzira inquired. "We've counted, today is his two hundredth visit." The Baba Sali agreed to talk with him. That afternoon, the man entered the room as usual and placed his slip of paper on the table before the Baba Sali. This time, the tzaddik did not even pick it up.


"Listen, my friend," he said gently. "You have been coming to me every day for a very long time. Haven't I already told you that it is a lost case. Go home, why do you insist on coming to me?" The man lifted his eyes. "I come to you every day, and I will keep coming to you every day, because I believe in the power of prayer, and I believe that God listens to your prayers, and that you are the only one in the world who can help me."


"Do you really believe that?" the Baba Sali responded. "If so . . ." he rose from chair, "go out right now and buy a baby carriage!" The man gave a start. He jumped up and ran out of the room. "I got a blessing! I got a blessing!" he cried. That night he presented his wife with a beautiful new baby carriage. Nine months later, they had a child.

The New Mikveh

by Rav Moshe Weber, Shlita

Near the home of Rabbi Yisrael Abuchatzeirah we built a new mikvah, during the month of Tamuz, in the midst of the dry, hot summer. When the structure was complete, we lacked water - rain water, of course, in order to finish the mikvah. Our master, the Baba Sali, lifted his eyes to Heaven, and proclaimed, "Master of the universe - You commanded us to behave in holiness and purity. So, we desire to fulfill Your will. Please, please, for the sake of Your great name, let it rain!"


Suddenly, clouds gathered in the sky, and instantly, rain fell! In no time at all, the mikvah filled with water. However, we realized that the mikvah was not quite built according to the opinion of the Beit Yehuda, so we informed our master, our teacher, the Baba Sali. Immediately, he ordered us to drain the mikveh. Someone raised an objection - "It does not rain like this in the middle of the summer ," they said. "This is a rare miracle!" He turned to Baba Sali, and said, "I take it upon myself, the sin, that this mikvah is not perfect, built according to the opinion of the Beit Yehuda."


But our teacher, our master, the Baba Sali, stood firm, replying, "we are obligated to empty the mikveh." So, we drained the mikvah, and completed the design according to the Beit Yehuyda, in splendor and perfection.


The Baba Sali then raised his eyes to Haven again, and beseeched of Hashem: "Master of the universe, you know very well that we made this mikveh not for my honor, or the honor of my father, but rather, only to increase the increase purity among Israel, Your people. Please, don't turn Your face from us, and let it rain! Let the mikveh will with fresh, new rain water..." Then, as before, in the midst of the dry, scolding summer, the sky darkened... clouds gathered... and rain began to fall.


The Baba Sali wrote many discourses about the Torah, Shavuot, Shabbat HaGadol, Shabbat Zachor and the power of tzdaka. Baba Sali was laid to rest in Netivot. An estimated 100,000 were there to pay their respects to a tzadik who had devoted his life to his people. Still today his grave is a place visited everyday.

May the merit of the tzaddik Rabbi Yisrael Abuchatzeirah - The Baba Sali protect us all, Amen.

Antique Parochet

MOST BEAUTIFUL PAROCHET HUGH LIONS AND CROWN MOST BEAUTIFUL TORAH BOOK CLOSET COVER HAND EMBROIDERED MADE MANY YEARS AGO, MUST BE SUZANI STYLE FROM TURKEY OR BULGARI COVER HUGE SIZE. APPROX. 75 INCH WIDE * 70 INCH IT HAS INSCRIPTIONS ON DATED 1954 BUT IT SEEMS TO BE EARLY CLOTH MAYBE EVEN 19TH CEN. A TORAH CLOSET COVER LIKE THIS WILL COST 500 - 800 USD. ALL HAND MADE BY AN ARTIST, YELLOW MADE OF WHAT I THINK IS SILK, GOLD & SILVER STRINGS USE WITH AMAZING PATTERNS ON. GREAT CONDITION ONE TINY TEAR ALMOST CAN NOT BE NOTICED, NO MOTH SIGNS, I DO NOT THINK IT WAS USED MUCH IF ANY. AMAZING RARE ITEM

Tres Klavinas en un Tiesto

Sinagoga Santa Maria La Blanca Toledo-Espana


Tres Klavinas en un Tiesto


Tres Klavinas en un Tiesto
Una blanka i una roz
La d'ermedio es kolorada
Empesijo d'el amor

Amar,Minnush,Minnush
Kuzum Minnush, Minnush

A la mar yo me vo echar
Un pishkado va aferrar
Siete novyas vo kitar
Yo a ti te va tomar

Amar,Minnush,Minnush
Kuzum Minnush, Minnush

A los sielos va suvir
A las sietes tabakas
Flesha d'oro vo echar
Ande kaye es mi mazal

Amar,Minnush,Minnush
Kuzum Minnush, Minnush

Suzy Turkiya/Israel

ON THE SHORES OF PORTUGAL by Eyal Golan

ON THE SHORES OF PORTUGAL by Eyal Golan


ON THE SHORES OF PORTUGAL English

I looked all my life for love
I was sailing a wandering ship
I crossed continents and sea

sand didn't find a loving woman
In a small port on the shores of Portugal
she waited in the lighthouse
The waves brought me luck and
I found a safe land with her

Chorus:

She will come back tonight
like a butterfly to the light -
I am like a guest there
Tonight it is important I know I have found love
She took me to the village alley
sand said: "we will live here for ever
You have sailed enough for me -
be a husband to me, not a guest"
For you my love I will sell the ship I'll build a lovers' lighthouse
Surrounded by gold walls

BACHOF SHEL PORTUGAL Hebrew

Chipasti ahava kol hachayim
hiflagti al sfina nodedet
Chatziti yabashot vegal yamim
velo hayta isha ohevet

Benamal katan bachof shel Portugal
al migdalor hi sham chikta li
Galey hayam heviu li
mazal chof mivtachim etzla matzati

Shuv halayla hi tashuv
kmo parpar laperach ani etzla ore'ach
Shuv halayla ze chasuv
achshav ani yode'a shematzati ahava

El simta'ot hakfar lakcha oti
amra li kan nichye lanetzach
Hiflagta kvar maspik lema'ani
tehyeh li ba'al velo ore'ach

Lema'anech hakol ahuvati
et hasfina emkor achshav
Evne lach migdalor shel ohavim
umisvivo chomot zahav

Out of Spain

Out of Spain

Jerusalem Which Was in Sepharad

A journey through Spain with the fifth president of Israel

Yitzhak Navon

The Spanish connection
The golden age
The balance of terror
The Marranos and the inquisition
1492
The crypto-jews of Portugal ( A)
The crypto-jews of Portugal (B)
The eternal jew of Majorca

3 DVD'S

8 Episodes

http://www.sifrutake.com/scripts/main.cgi?action=big&product=DVD366

Chief rabbi letter of Beit Din in Tripoli

CHIEF RABBI LETTER OF BEIT DIN IN TRIPOLI- LIBYA 1933

UNCOMMON RARE LETTE of LIBYA

SPINSTERHOOD SINGLE CERTIFICATE LETTER
By the holy
BEIT DIN of TRIPOLITANIA LIBYA

Uncommon Jewish letter in first class, Impressive official confirmation of SPINSTERHOOD by the holy BEIT DIN of TRIPOLI community in LIBYA.

CONFIRMATION to MARRIAGE for the boy KOINTINO MACHLUF son of YA'AKOV and ROSINA BARCHNATZ, was born in TRIPOLI and for the time being inhabit in EGYPT he is not marriage or engagement relationship with any Jewish woman, is permitted to pursue matrimony.

Original signature of Rabbi YOSEF YONAH the Chief President of a court of TRIPOLI and the signature of BEIT DIN SOFER Scribal, with the official impressive seals (twice) of the Rabbinate, also have a wonderful ITALIAN stamp, because at that time LIBYA was an ITALIAN colony (from 1911).

The letter was written and signed in

TRIPOLI LIBYA 21 JUNE 1933