Tzadikim

Rabbi Abraham Moshe Hillel (1820-1920) served as Chief Rabbi of Baghdad during the years 1884, 1886–1889, and 1911–1915. He was a pupil of Rabbi Abdallah Somekh.

His family

Avraham Hillel was born in 1880 - his father Moshe Hillel and his grandfather Ezekiel Hillel were also wise rabbis. His brother Meir Moshe Hillel was also a rabbi of the Babylonian community.

Married to Rebecca - Leah from her they had 5 sons and 5 daughters and also from a banquet from which they had 6 sons and 2 daughters. One of his relatives is Shlomo Hillel who was the Speaker of the Knesset and Minister of the Israeli Government. One of his great-grandchildren is Rabbi Ya'akov Moshe Hillel, who serves as head of the Ahavat Shalom Yeshiva in Jerusalem.

His teachings and leadership

He is among the great disciples of Rabbi Abdullah Somekh and even appears in the signature of the seven sages of Baghdad who gave his consent to his book "Rabbi Zevhi Tzedek".

When many students were added to the Beit Zelacha Midrash, Rabbi Abdullah Somekh was appointed as head of one of the yeshivas operating under the Beit Midrash.

Mitzvah observant society

In the year 1868 - Founded in Baghdad "observant society" as the body responsible for the welfare and community of the community, in this association were more than 200 dignitaries of the community for their wisdom and experience and under the leadership of the company stood about 10 people elected annually to determine the regulations Rabbi Avraham Hillel was elected among the leaders of the "observant society", and all volunteers without exception had to pay the same membership fee and were allowed to donate additional sums, many of whom were volunteers to help their bodies or their funds to realize the public benefit.

The following are the main regulations set for their responsibilities:

Education

Pay attention and keep an eye on the state of the boys' education, especially the education of orphans and the poor ... to teach the Torah and the Mitzvah ...
And to teach each one a job as a hand in hand for the sake of their own good will have their livelihood to support themselves comfortably and have to be well.
To entrust smart and wise people with their education, God fear ...
Examine the students each year and reward the outstanding
A teacher who will bring his students good results will also be rewarded and commended
To be a student of students who are passionate about the Torah with great passion and see fruit in their works, to hold in their hands so that they will persevere in their studies.
Welfare, charity and grace

To inspire the generosity of our people for compassion for the poor and the pious, and especially for those who refrain from taking charity in the cause.
Oversee community income and expenses and synagogues.
Endeavor to help orphans and orphans and the poor.
Take care of the hospitality of passers-by, especially the sages and the poor of Eretz Israel
Assisting in observance and training

To send smart every year to all the synagogues for tassel and tefillin, and every three years also the mezuzahs.
To make the Sages available to the public before the Day of Sukkot, who can test their kosher sukkah
Monitor the mikvahs.
Take care of baking the matzos.
Look after the cheese kosher.
Oversee decent public conduct in all tax matters.
Look after the craftsmen's decency
Although the functions of the Association's leaders are to determine, supervise and supervise, Rabbi Abraham would also go himself to assist in the community's kindness and commandments, for example, in the newspaper - Maggid Mishrit:

"Rabbis Avraham Moshe Hillel and Rabbi Avraham Eliyahu used to raise funds for modest, homeless homeowners, and that the above was still doing much for the public good."

His tenure as a Haham  Bashi

In the middle of the 19th century, the days of presidential rule in Babylon ended in Judaism and the days of the prime rabbis with the title of "Bashi sage" began. This institution exists in Baghdad from 1849 to 1932 - eighty-three years.

This role was determined by the Turkish government on the recommendation of the Bashi sage in the capital of the capital, which was generally taken into account by the scholars and leaders of the Baghdad community. The role of the sage in Bashi describes passenger Benjamin II as follows:
"According to which all the affairs of the congregation will go out and come, both in matters between man and his friend, and in matters of religion. He will be his witnesses here with the ministers of the earth in all that is necessary and must collect the taxes which have not yet been paid by the congregation. He can do nothing without his consent. The three dayanim just have to make a sentence, though punishing a man is a smart thing for Ashi, he is the chief rabbi and the first rabbi in the city. "

Rabbi Avraham Hillel served in a wise (Haham) role in the Bashi of Baghdad and Babylonian Jews for three consecutive periods.

In the year (1884), between the years (1886-1889) and between the years (1911-1914). In other words, even when he was old, he was appointed chief rabbi for his own good and not in his favor.

In the year 1884, following a long controversy regarding the subject of the Bashi sage, Rabbi Elisha Dangor temporarily moved from office until it was consented, and in the meantime asked Rabbi Avraham Hillel, one of the sages who sat with him in the tribunal, to fill his place. From Rabbi Elisha Dangor to return to office, he acceded to the request of the community, but after about a year he decided to retire from his position as a sage Bashi, but remained a Rabbi. On his official appointment as a Bashi sage, the press was published as follows:

"The Honorable  governor of Babylon the district approved and held the election, and will show honor and dear to the new rabbi. One of our government officials has put his days in charge of helping the congregation and giving the order to the police officers to discipline the rabbi in whatever they command concerning the Jews of Baghdad. And brought to trial by the rabbinical court and, as far as they are liable to severe punishment or imprisonment, the Minister of Police must do the trial without any inquiry and demand. "

Died at the Tevet 17,  1920.

May the merit of the tzadik Rabbi (Haham) Abraham Moshe Hillel protect us all. Amen