Harav Chaim Hakohein of Tripoli
25 Sivan 5665
We Are Redeemed in the Merit of Answering Amen
Rav Chaim was born to his father, Rav Shlomo Hakohein, in Djerba, Tunis, around the year 5600. From an early age, his special characteristics were evident, and he acquired Torah and yiras Shamayim from the eminent rabbanim in his city. Rav Chaim always toiled in Torah and was known for his tremendous proficiency in Nigleh and Nistar. When he visited Tripoli, Libya, the community leaders recognized his greatness, and asked him to come and serve as a dayan in their city. In 5634, he was appointed to serve as dayan in Tripoli, and later, he became the av beis din there, and was recognized as the highest Torah authority in Libya.
Rav Chaim gave numerous shiurim and toiled to establish Torah institutions. His work bore fruit and in his days, the kol Torah resounded throughout Tripoli and the city returned to its former greatness. He authored dozens of seforim on all subjects of Torah including Toras Chaim on the commentary of Rabbeinu Bechayei on Torah; Shu”t Dvar Hamishpat, Dumiyah Tehillah on Sefer Tehillim, and Mitzvas Hamelech on the 613 mitzvos, of which Rav Chaim Berlin wrote in his letter to the author: “And as I continued to read, I found a ta’am in everything,” (Malchei Tarshish p. 289). Rav Chaim passed away on 25 Sivan 5665.
Geulah in the Merit of Answering Amen
Chazal say that for the sin of not answering amen, Eretz Yisrael was destroyed and Am Yisrael was exiled from the land as they explain (Sifri Ha’azinu Piska 320) the passuk in Shiras Ha’azinu (Devarim 32:19-20): “Vayomer astirah Panai meihem...ki dor tahpuchos heimah banim lo eimun bam.” Do not read it לא אמן בם but rather “lo amen bam” – that they didn’t want to answer amen after the Nevi’im when they blessed them.”
In light of this, Rav Chaim Hakohein of Tripoli brings in his sefer Dumiyah Tehillah on Tehillim, an allusion from the passuk that in the merit of being strict about answering amen, we will merit to be redeemed:
When we connect the second letter of the passuk (Tehillim ”ואנחנו קמנו ונתעודד“ )29:9 we get the word amen, because when we are strict about amen, we will be redeemed from the galus and the words “v’anachnu kamnu vanisodad” will be fulfilled.
The passuk (66:36) Rav Chaim explains ”נורא אלוקים ממקדשיך“ whose acronym is amen, as follows: In the merit of answering amen, we will merit to have the Bais Hamikdash built, and the words of the passuk.will be fulfilled נורא אלקים ממקדשיך
A dedication in the handwriting of Rav Chaim Hakohein of Tripoli.
