Rebbi Avraham Azoulay

Hebron Maarat Hamahpelah 1420

Rebbi Avraham Azoulay was the great great grandfather of the famous Hida.He wrote a book called Hesed L'Avraham.He was born in Fez Morocco and afterwards went to Hebron in Israel.

One day the Pasha from Istanbul went to the tomb of Avraham , Yitshak and Yaakov.While over there his sword fell into a tunnel. As his sword had an expensive jewel on it he sent a soldier to recuperate it. The soldier did not return. Another was sent .He as well did not return. After a third soldier was sent the Pasha decreed that the Jews must find someone to recuperate the precious stone.

Rebbi Avraham Azoulay told the Pasha that he himself would go. He also asked the Pasha if he could wait until the following day. That night Rebbi Avraham learned the Holy Zohar. He chose all the passages that spoke about Avraham that was buried over there.

The next day he asked the rest of the Jews to pray for him and then went down to get the precious sword.After going down he sent the sword up with the rope but he himself remained there a long , long time. Everyone thought that something had happened to him just like the soldiers of the Pasha. Finally he came out.

Everyone was very pleased but asked why he had remained over there such a long time.He told them after going down he decided to see what was in the interior of the tunnel.He advanced cautiously .Suddenly he saw someone guarding an etrance.He shouted Shema Yisrael .

The guard told him that he was Eliezer the servant of Avraham.He was guarding Avraham Yitshak and Yaakov. He asked Rebbi Avraham Azoulay how he came there and Rebbi Avraham told him the whole story.Eliezer then told him to wait while he asked permission for Rebbi Avraham to enter.He got the permission. and Rebbi Avraham entered.

As soon as Rebbi Avraham entered he fainted due to the splendour of what he saw.He was awoken by delicious perfumes .Rebbi Avraham could then appreciate the paradise that he was in.As it was so pleasant Rebbi Avraham did not want to leave.

Avraham , Yitshak and Yaakov explained to him that he could not stay , but , that tomorrow he would be with them.

Rebbi Avraham left and came out of the tunnel.Rebbi Avraham then added that the decree was his desire .The following night he again studied the Zohar the whole night.At dawn he went to the Mikvah ,said Kriat Shema and returned to the marvellous paradise he saw the day before....