Chief Rabbi of Sephardic Community in Buenos Aires Visits Israel

Harav Yitzchak Antavi Saka, the chief rabbi of the Sephardic community in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the president of the Menora organization for Jewish youth, made a long visit to Israel, during which he visited the homes of Gedolei Yisrael, toured a number of Jewish institutions and met with politicians and public figures. Rabbi Saka, who is also linked to state leaders and high-ranking personalities such as the Pope and others, arrived in Israel for a two-week visit, together with a large delegation from the Spanish community in Argentina, alongside the president of the Spanish Jewish community, Mr. Marcus Mayo.

The highlight of the visit was Rabbi Saka’s visit to the residence of the Rosh Yeshivah Hacham Shalom Cohen, zt”l, a few days before he passed away. The visit to Hacham Shalom Cohen, the head of the Porat Yosef yeshivah, lasted beyond what was expected when Rav Saka, a graduate of the Porat Yosef yeshivah, received special hosting from his Rosh Yeshivah who expressed his appreciation for his branching out with activities around the world. Also, Hacham Shalom ordered Rav Saka to maintain the special relationship with the Pope, for the sake of the people of Israel, as the Gedolei Yisrael have practiced throughout the generations.

The day after the group landed in Israel, they visited the Chief Rabbi, Harav Yitzchak Yosef, during which Rav Saka presented the revised edition of Sefat Hayam, written by Harav Yitzchak Mayo, zt”l, and donated by the president of the community, Mr. Marcus Mayo. Rav Mayo, zt”l, served as Rabbi of the Jewish community in Izmir, Turkey, on whose foundations the Sephardic community in Argentina was built. Rav Yitzchak Yosef reviewed the sefer, expressed his admiration for the excellent work and encouraged the members of the delegation to continue the blessed activity. They also went to visit the office of the Chief Rabbi Harav David Lau, between whom and Rabbi Saka there is a direct channel during the year, in the framework of which Rabbi Lau advises the Argentine community on various halachic matters. The revised edition of Sefat Hayam was also presented to Rav Lau.

The special visit also included, as mentioned, meetings with high-ranking politicians, discussions with mayors and tours with well-known public figures. Among the many meetings and visits, the members of the delegation led by Rabbi Saka met with Yerushalayim Mayor Moshe Leon, who promised to provide assistance to the hundreds of students of the Sephardic community from Argentina who come every year to study in Yerushalayim. Rabbi Saka thanked him greatly and said that the students of the community are grateful for the commitment of the municipality on their behalf.

On Erev Shabbos, both on the first Shabbos of the visit and on the second, Rav Saka came to daven at the Kosel and then delivered a special dvar Torah before the large crowd who wanted to hear his words. On the first Motzoei Shabbos of the visit, Rav Saka was honored to give a shiur at the Yazdim shul, next to Harav Yitzchak Yosef. The Rabbi captivated the crowds of participants and even elaborated on the new edition of Sefat Hayam. Rabbi Yosef also expanded on the sefer in his shiur and spoke about the activities of the Sephardic community in Argentina. In addition, Rabbi Yosef praised Rabbi Saka and said that he was one of the close talmidim of his father Hagaon Harav Ovadia Yosef, zt”l, and had the privilege of being served by him for many years.

Rav Saka also came to visit a few yeshivot where graduates of the Sephardic community in Argentina study, some of whom grew up in his institutions and were sent to study in Israel with his encouragement. During his visit to the Binyan Av yeshivah, where there is a special setting for Spanish-speaking students from all over the world, a respected part from Argentina, the Rabbi said that the yeshivah started with only Argentinian talmidim, and over the years has it become a recognized yeshivah with a large number of students from all around the world. In addition, the Rabbi gave a shiur to all the South Americans studying at the Porat Yosef yeshivah, and he also gave a shiur at the Aish HaTorah yeshivah, in the new building in front of the Kosel, where a group of students who grew up and were educated in Argentina are also studying.