Parshas Chayei Sarah 5787
ויתן לי את מערת המכפלה אשר לו אשר בקצה שדהו בכסף מלא יתננה לי בתוככם לאחזת קבר ... (כג-ט)
The great Kabbalist Rabbeinu Avraham Azulai zt”l, author of Chesed L’Avraham, was a descendant of a distinguished family of Torah scholars and Kabbalists who had been exiled from Spain and settled in Fez, Morocco. After enduring a difficult journey to Eretz Yisroel, during which he and his family miraculously survived a shipwreck, R’ Avraham settled in Chevron, drawn by his deep longing to live near the resting places of the holy Avos in Mearas Hamachpelah. He devoted his life to Torah study and the hidden wisdom of Kabbalah.
The Sefer Zichron Yerushalayim relates a remarkable story about R’ Avraham and his extraordinary descent into the depths of the sacred cave. According to the account, a powerful pasha from Kusta once arrived in Chevron. It was customary for Arabs to visit Mearas Hamachpelah on Fridays, and the pasha joined the many visitors who came to the holy site. During his visit, he noticed the opening of the pit above the cave and became curious about what lay beneath it. He expressed a desire to descend and see the interior for himself. Those accompanying him immediately warned him that no human being dared enter the depths of the cave, which was regarded as an exceptionally sacred and mysterious place. The pasha refused to accept their warnings. Determined to see what was inside, he removed the cover from the opening and leaned over the pit. As he did so, his sword slipped from its sheath and plunged into the depths of Mearas Hamachpelah. The sword was extraordinarily valuable, decorated with precious stones and pearls, and the pasha was desperate to recover it.
He immediately ordered one of his servants to descend into the pit and retrieve the sword. A rope was lowered, and the servant was sent down. But almost as soon as he entered the cave, he lost his life. The pasha then ordered another servant to make the attempt, but he, too, perished. Additional servants were lowered, yet none returned alive. Some did not even reach the bottom before they suddenly died.
Seeing that he was losing his servants without recovering his treasured possession, the pasha became distressed. He exclaimed, “What shall I do? Must I lose all my servants?” Having exhausted his own men, he turned to the Jewish community of Chevron and demanded that one of them descend into the cave and retrieve his sword. The Jews of Chevron found themselves in an extremely difficult situation. They understood the terrible danger involved, but they also faced the demands of the powerful pasha. They therefore decided to cast lots to determine who would undertake the mission. The lot fell upon R’ Avraham Azulai. When the righteous sage learned that he had been chosen, he accepted the outcome with remarkable composure. He prepared himself spiritually, immersed in the mikveh, and dressed in white garments.
Throughout the night, the Jews of Chevron gathered around him as he spent the hours teaching them the secrets of the Torah and revealing profound insights into the hidden wisdom of Kabbalah. When morning approached, R’ Avraham rose and asked his friends to daven for him, beseeching Hashem that no harm should come to him. He then made his way to Mearas Hamachpelah. A rope was secured around him, and he began his descent into the mysterious depths of the cave. Once inside, he located the precious sword and attached it to a rope so that it could be raised to those waiting above. Having fulfilled the purpose of his mission, however, he did not immediately return. Instead, he continued walking through the interior of the cave where the neshamos of the holy Avos appeared to him there. He remained inside for several hours, experiencing something beyond the comprehension of those waiting above.
Meanwhile, the Jews of Chevron grew increasingly anxious. Although the sword had been recovered, R’ Avraham had not yet returned. Hour after hour passed, and they feared that he, too, had fallen victim to the mysterious danger that had claimed the lives of the pasha’s servants. Finally, R’ Avraham gave the agreed-upon signal, and those waiting above began pulling him out. When he emerged safely, the entire Jewish community rejoiced, grateful that the great tzaddik had returned alive from a place into which no one else had dared venture.
But R’ Avraham returned with an extraordinary message. He told them that during his time inside the cave, he had been shown from Heaven that his departure from this world was approaching. He had also been informed that he would enter Gan Eden and join the holy Avos.
That night, R’ Avraham spent the hours delivering profound teachings from the Pardes of Wisdom and revealing additional secrets of Torah and Kabbalah. When the first light of morning appeared, he descended to the mikveh and immersed himself. He then emerged, dressed in white garments, and recited Krias Shema with complete purity and devotion. As he concluded, his holy neshamah departed from this world. His Torah teachings, continue to illuminate the wisdom of Kabbalah and inspire generations of Klal Yisrael.