The Torah community in Bnei Brak was plunged into mourning on Friday with the petirah of Rav Chaim Harari zt”l, rov of the Ateres Moshe bais medrash and rosh hakollelim of its network of kollelim. He was 82.
Rav Harari was born to his parents, Rav Moshe Harari z”l and Mrs. Teresa Rochel a”h. He later came to Eretz Yisroel from Argentina and learned at Yeshivas Porat Yosef in Yerushalayim, where his rabbeim included Chacham Shimon Baadani zt”l and Chacham Shalom Cohen zt”l. He remained deeply attached to his rabbeim throughout his life.
As a young avreich, just six months after his marriage, Rav Harari was sent by his rebbe, Chacham Shimon Baadani, on a mission to Mexico to help strengthen Yiddishkeit there. After a year and a half, he returned to Eretz Yisroel, determined to raise his children in the Artzos Hakedoshah.
Rav Harari subsequently served as a ram at Yeshivas Magen Hayeled, Yeshivas Tiferes Moshe and Yeshivas Daroma, becoming deeply beloved by his talmidim.
For many years, both in the yeshivos hakedoshos and in his own bais medrash, Rav Harari served as a baal tefillah during the Yomim Noraim. His tefillos were marked by extraordinary emotion and hishtapchus hanefesh, as a son pleading before his Creator.
Rav Harari maintained a particularly close connection with Rav Elazar Menachem Man Shach zt”l, who gave a haskamah to his seforim. Rav Shach wrote of him: “A rov who is precious among the precious, crowned with virtues and good character traits that the Sages enumerated among the acquisitions of Torah, etc. I have based my words on the fact that I have known him for a long time…”.
Approximately 40 years ago, Rav Harari was among the founders of the Avos organization, a nationwide organization established for Sephardic bnei Torah.
Throughout his life, Rav Harari authored numerous seforim on Shas, halacha and aggadah. Writing and learning Torah were his life and the joy of his heart. About four decades ago, he founded Kollel Ateres Moshe, which he subsequently expanded into a network with several branches.
Rav Harari’s condition deteriorated approximately a month and a half ago, and he was niftar on Friday, Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Ki Savo.
The levayah departed from his bais medrash on Malachi Street in Bnei Brak, followed by kevurah on Erev Shabbos at the Ponevezh bais hachaim.
Hespedim were delivered by the mara d’asra of Bnei Brak, Rav Masoud Ben Shimon; Rav Nissim Ben Shimon; Rav Yitzchok Abitbol, who was Rav Harari’s chavrusa for approximately 40 years; as well as his brothers-in-law and sons.
Rav Harari leaves behind sons, sons-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all continuing the distinguished Torah legacy he devoted his life to building.
Yehi zichro baruch.
{Matzav.com}
