Eulogy to Our Great Teacher HaRav Yaakov Perez zt”l
The Mishnah in Bava Metzia (Chapter 2, Mishnah 11) states: “The loss of one’s father and the loss of one’s teacher—his teacher’s loss takes precedence, for his father brought him into this world, but his teacher, who taught him wisdom, brings him to the World to Come.”
Although today it is not customary to tear one’s clothes for a sage, regarding one’s primary teacher, from whom most of his wisdom came, some say that one must tear his clothes as he would for his father or mother. Thus, I tore my clothes when I received the devastating news of the passing of my rabbi and teacher, Rabbi Yaakov Peretz, of blessed memory.
A righteous man has vanished from the earth, a devout person in his deeds and character, a giant among giants. I was fortunate to be a student of HaRav at the Midrash Sepharadi Yeshiva, and anyone who had the privilege of being his student knows that HaRav was a genius in all areas of Jewish law, a great decisor, and a sage who deserves to be counted among the greats of the generation. Therefore, I am not worthy to eulogize him and speak of his greatness. Nevertheless, HaRav requested not to be eulogized in the customary manner, so as not to add praises to him, and he asked that if we do eulogize him, we should speak words of ethics and moral teachings, especially concerning truth and honesty, both between man and God and between man and his fellow man. Therefore, I decided to write a few things in his memory that HaRav taught and emphasized in his lessons, which have been etched in my heart and have become guiding principles for me:
- 1. The Thirteen Principles of Faith: HaRav, of blessed memory, emphasized the importance of believing wholeheartedly in the Thirteen Principles of the holy Torah, in the Written Torah and the Oral Torah, and he demanded this from anyone who came to convert in his Bet Din (rabbinical court).
- 2. Truth, Honesty, and Justice: It is not for nothing that all the books the rabbi wrote are called “Emet LeYaakov” (“Truth to Yaakov”), for he was entirely about truth, and he demanded truth in everything. Even in cases where it is permissible to deviate from the truth for the sake of peace or to avoid causing someone distress, HaRav taught and emphasized never to say anything false. Among the things the rabbi would say: “If you cannot speak the truth, it is better to remain silent.”
- 3. Ethics, Character Development, and Fear of God: Among the prominent teachings HaRav would repeat over and over again: to ask for forgiveness, to always pursue peace, to owe no one anything, honesty in business dealings, charity and kindness, and the great importance of studying and teaching books of Mussar (ethics), especially Mesillat Yesharim (The Path of the Just).
- 4. The Importance of Speech: One of the great flaws of our generation is not giving sufficient importance to speech. HaRav emphasized that speech should always be truthful, and one must be very careful of gossip, slander, and foul language. One of the topics HaRav repeatedly taught was the severity of vows and oaths, and therefore he was very strict against the “Shevuah HaChamura” (severe oath) that Sephardim customarily add to the Ketubah (marriage contract). Out of concern for lightheartedness and disdain for vows, HaRav refrained from reciting “Kol Nidrei” on Yom Kippur, in accordance with the views of the Geonim, the Meiri, the Riנash, and the Catalan sages.
- 5. Stringencies: HaRav was very troubled by the stringencies in Jewish law that are practiced today in the Land of Israel, and he used to say that one who is strict should be strict for himself but should not declare what is permitted as forbidden. In our generation, there is a great tendency to be stringent in minor commandments while neglecting major and important commandments such as honoring one’s parents, respecting one’s teacher and Torah scholars, as well as avoiding theft, deception, lies, and fraud. One of the things HaRav said was that a sage is not only one who knows how to be lenient but also one who knows how to be stringent, for many stringencies ultimately lead to leniencies or, God forbid, to errors.
- 6. Education::
- HaRav taught a great principle in education that should be adopted in religious schools, yeshivas, and at home— discipline. However, he emphasized that it is proper and right to lead with gentleness and respect, as it is written, “Train a child according to his way.” HaRav had a positive attitude toward secular studies and physical exercise, and he advised everyone who asked him about it. A unique Sephardic method of study based on the simple meaning of the text, not on pilpul (casuistic debate). HaRav emphasized the importance of studying the plain meaning and was adamant against the “Ashkenazification” of Sephardic yeshivas today, which teach Talmud and nothing else. The importance of studying Tanach and Hebrew grammar: HaRav recounted that in his childhood in Morocco, they would study the Tanach and the Mishnah and praised scholars who knew the Tanach by heart. Regarding the rules of grammar and pronunciation, HaRav was well-versed in everything and always emphasized that grammar should be included in yeshiva studies. HaRav was meticulous about correct Sephardic pronunciation: to pronounce the letters Chet, Ayin, Kuf, Resh, Tzadi... correctly. HaRav emphasized how important it is to recite the prayers word by word, slowly, and he demonstrated to us more than once how to recite Kiddush on Friday night, which is a Mitzvah from the Torah.
- The importance of earning a livelihood after studies: HaRav always said that a man is obligated in the Ketubah to provide for the woman and not the other way around, and what is happening today, where men study in Kollel (full-time Torah study) while the woman supports the household, is not correct. HaRav emphasized that among Sephardim, the man always worked and earned an honorable livelihood.
- 7. The Importance of the Land of Israel::
- The importance of settling the Land: HaRav always spoke in praise of the Land of Israel and its holiness, and he pointed out how important the Mitzvah of settling all parts of the Land is today. One of the stories the students always remember is about his journey to Israel from Morocco by ship at a young age and the great excitement the rabbi felt when he reached the shores of Israel. HaRav used to mention how the great sages of Israel throughout the generations dreamed of being in the Land of Israel and did not merit it, and how we must thank God that we have merited to live in the Holy Land and speak the Hebrew language.
- Regarding the exile, the sufferings, and the troubles of the Jewish people throughout the generations, HaRav said that they mostly came because the Jewish people did not want to come to the Land of Israel.
- Attitude towards the State of Israel and the army: HaRav emphasized that Sephardim have always had a positive attitude towards the state and the army, despite all the well-known problems, and he had plans and thoughts on how to establish units of God- fearing soldiers in the IDF. HaRav spoke a lot about and recognized the miracles that occurred in the War of Independence and the Six- Day War and used to recite Hallel (on those days).
- 9. The Purpose of Life: HaRav said repeatedly that a person must strive with all his might to fulfill his purpose. No one knows when the Creator will take his soul, so a person must constantly strive to serve God truthfully and with a desire to fulfill his life’s purpose.
- 10. The Torah Is Beautiful and Perfect: Whoever had the privilege of being the rabbi’s student learned how good and pleasant it is to be a Jew who observes Torah and Mitzvot, how beautiful and pleasant Judaism is, and how the mitzvot of God are good for a person. HaRav had common sense connected to reality and always emphasized that our sages spoke in simple language, and when they said “Zayit” (olive), they meant an olive; when they said “Tzet HaKochavim” (the emergence of the stars; i.e. nightfall),” they meant the stars come out and did not complicate us with things. HaRav was a personal example of true Judaism, a wholesome sage from the previous generation.
Our great teacher and rabbi, a giant among giants, a man of God, Rabbi Yaakov Ben Rabbi Yosef Peretz, of blessed memory, has passed away, and we are left orphans. How has the light of Halacha dimmed, and the Talmud, like an orphan, who will understand? And the secret of the Torah, who will reveal its light, and who will protect the generation? A righteous man has vanished from the earth, and the foundations of the earth tremble.
May it be God’s will that we be worthy to be called students of HaRav, of blessed memory, and continue in his path, the path of truth, integrity, and justice.
May his soul be bound in the bond of life.
Servant of Hashem, Idan Perez,
Derech Efrata, 24th of Menachem Av, 5784
