Who Needs a Driver When the Baba Sali is Behind the Wheel?
Rav Dovid Chai Abuchatzeira of Nahariyah used to relate how his father-in-law was often the designated driver for the Baba Sali in Morocco. Once, the Baba Sali traveled to Casablanca to officiate at a seudas mitzva and, as was his custom, he distributed lechaim from a stiff drink called Machiyah. When the seuda concluded, he asked my father-in-law to drive him back that day to Tefillalat. When they asked the Baba Sali what the hurry was that he could not wait to travel the next day, he explained that he had to get back, since he was having guests. “How do you know you are having guests?” his relatives asked, to which he smiled and responded, “I know.”
Finally, they explained that his driver had had one too many lechaims (he couldn’t refuse a lechaim given to him by the Tzaddik) and he was in an inebriated state of “Gilufin and Joy!” and not in any fit condition to drive him back. To this he replied, “No need to worry – sit him in the driver seat, turn on the engine and I will do the rest.” Accustomed to the Baba Sali’s miraculous ways and seeing that the Tzaddik was adamant and that he somehow thought he could get back in such a way, they did as he bade them.
They sat my father-in-law down, started the car’s engine and watched in wonder as it drove itself home! When they arrived in Tefillalat by sunrise, they had to take my father-in-law and put him in bed, since he had no idea where he was – and the Baba Sali arrived safe and sound! (Shemuos Tovos)
Chochom Adif Minovi - A Talmid Chochom is Better Than a Prophet (Bova Basra 12a)
When a certain Rav in Eretz Yisrael sought a higher position, he approached the Baba Sali for his blessings. He explained that he did not seek more honor or glory but he thought (mistakenly) that his higher position would give him greater respect and authority among the chiloni (secular) authorities, leaders, politicians and Knesset members and that they would listen more readily to his ideas and he might be able to influence them to greater mitzva observance and Torah study.
Though his aspirations were pure and his motives were good, the Baba Sali tried to dissuade him from this mistaken path. He explained that back in Morocco, the Rabbonim had real power and authority, they had the police force backing them, and they had the power to fine, jail and punish offenders and even whip criminals and rebels who disregarded their rulings. “But here in Eretz Yisrael, no one will listen to you. Even a child can disregard any pesak you issue,” explained the Tzaddik, to no avail.
“Admor, my mind is made up. I did not come to ask if I should do this, just for your blessings.”
The Baba Sali sadly murmured a blessing for hatzlocha and the Rav was overjoyed! Later, the Baba Sali turned to his son and explained, “Tonight is the 3rd of Cheshvan, the Yahrzeit of the holy Rizhiner, whose lineage goes back to Malchus Bais Dovid, and therefore the workings of power and authority are revealed to me. I see that this Rav will indeed achieve his heart’s desire; he will be elected to the higher post, but not only will his rulings be ignored, the head judge and chief justice of the Supreme Court will rescind and overrule his pesak –he will be ridiculed, suffer embarrassment and pain, and eventually be disgraced. Now, however, let us conduct the Yahrzeit seudas hillula for the Tzaddik with joy.”
And so it was that the Baba Sali was right. The Rav did indeed achieve his dream, which within several short months turned into a nightmare. The chief judge of the Supreme Court overturned his pesak, the newspapers and radio all publicized his disgrace and he suffered shame, pain and humiliation, because as the Baba Sali had warned him, the position of the Rabbanut in Eretz Yisrael was not to be sought after, for it would not give him the authority he had imagined. (Sabba Kadisha, Sidna Baba Sali, Vol. 2 p. 39)
Rain in Morocco in the Summer
The mikve, dug deep into the ground, received its water supply from a natural spring beneath it. Once during the beginning of summer, in Tammuz, the spring dried up and the water disappeared from the mikve. How could the town be without a mikve through the summer? There would be no rain until autumn!
In their despair, the heads of the community enlisted the aid of Rav Yisrael Abuchatzeira. The Baba Sali (as he was popularly known) told them to dig a new mikve according to the superior specifications that he outlined for them.
The village workmen prepared the new mikve according to Baba Sali’s instructions and soon it stood, all ready for use. But without water, no one would be able to immerse in it. Pure rainwater was needed to fill the mikve. But in Morocco, rain only fell in the autumn and winter. Where would they find rainwater in Tammuz?
Again, the townspeople came to Baba Sali. “We have completed the construction of the new mikve,” they reported, “but we still have no water to fill it. What shall we do now?”
Baba Sali went to inspect the new mikve. He looked thoughtfully at the bright blue sky and said, “Master of the world, You commanded us to be pure and holy and we wish to follow Your teachings. We have done everything in our power. We built this mikve as best we could. It is now up to You, Hashem, to help us, for Your sake.”
This short tefilla was hardly out of his mouth before the skies clouded over and rain poured out of the sky. Enough rain fell to fill up the mikve with the required amount of water so that it could be used!
Baba Sali returned to his room to continue learning. In the process, he discovered that the drainpipe leading to the mikve had not been built according to the standards of the strictest opinions in the matter. Baba Sali, who always tried to do things to the maximum and in the strictest possible manner, was displeased that it did not meet the specifications of all of the sages. Although the mikve was kosher, he felt it lacked perfection.
He went back to the mikve and told the workmen to drain out all the water and to rebuild the drainpipe so that it would meet the most stringent requirements, according to all the authorities.
When they heard that the Baba Sali had gone to visit the mikve again, the Rabbonim of the town came to see what was amiss. They were surprised to hear that he had demanded that all the precious, miraculous rainwater be drained.
His cousin, Rav Yichye Dehaan, turned to Baba Sali saying, “Wasn’t the mikve kosher according to most of the authorities? Why, then, did you order that all the water be drained? Where will we obtain fresh rainwater to fill it again, once the fault is corrected?
