 |
Yitzhak KaduriFamous Israeli Kabbalist
Country:
 Israel |
Content:
Biography of Rabbi Yitzhak Kaduri
Rabbi Yitzhak Kaduri (1898?, Baghdad – January 28, 2006, Jerusalem) was a renowned Israeli rabbi and Kabbalist. He gained widespread fame due to his significant influence on Israeli politics, with politicians who received his blessings often winning elections. His supporters believed that the amulets he crafted possessed miraculous powers. In addition, Rabbi Kaduri was one of the spiritual leaders of the "Shas" party and Sephardic Judaism.
Early Life and Education
Rabbi Kaduri was born in Baghdad to Ze'ev Diba, a spice merchant, and his wife Tupahi. He studied at the renowned Beit Zilcha Yeshiva in Baghdad, where he had the opportunity to learn from Rabbi Yosef Chaim, the author of the collection of teachings called "Ben Ish Chai," and the greatest leader of Iraqi Jewry in the 19th century. At the age of 17, Yitzhak demonstrated exceptional abilities and had memorized the entire Talmud by heart. However, he had to halt his preaching career at the age of 17 due to his kabbalistic powers having adverse effects on his listeners. As a result, Rabbi Kaduri rarely made public appearances.
Life in Palestine
In 1922, Rabbi Kaduri immigrated to Palestine and enrolled in the Kabbalists' Yeshiva called "Shoshanim LeDavid," and later in the Porat Yosef Yeshiva under Rabbi Ephraim Cohen, where the main Kabbalists of Jerusalem, such as Rabbi Salman Eliyahu and Rabbi Yehuda Petaya, were concentrated.
Before marrying his first wife, Sarah, he changed his last name to Kaduri. In his spare time from studying, he engaged in bookbinding, memorizing entire sacred books, which he could quote in its entirety even after many years. The Porat Yosef Yeshiva was evacuated from the Old City during the War of Independence, and most of the books in it were burned. After the war, Rabbi Yitzhak Kaduri studied at the Beit El Kabbalists' Yeshiva, after which he established his own yeshiva called "Nachalat Yitzhak" to study prayer according to the commentaries of Rabbi Shalom Sharabi. Along with the yeshiva, Rabbi Kaduri also established a religious court.
Later Years and Legacy
In 1988, Rabbi Ephraim Cohen passed away, and Rabbi Yitzhak succeeded him as the dean of the Kabbalists. In 1989, his wife Sarah passed away. Rabbi Kaduri claimed that he lost his former clairvoyance and deep understanding of the Torah when he remained alone. As a result, he remarried in 1993 to a 55-year-old woman.
In 1996, he joined the "Shas" party and became its second spiritual leader. Prominent politicians began seeking audiences with Rabbi Kaduri, and those he received reportedly succeeded in their endeavors. According to his followers, Rabbi Kaduri frequently traveled to disaster sites to prevent further harm.
Close relatives testified that Rabbi Kaduri had visions in which he conversed with the Messiah. Shortly before his death, he decided to reveal the Messiah's name. He wrote it down in a posthumous note, instructing that it be opened a year after his death. It turned out that, according to Rabbi Kaduri, the name of the Messiah was Yehoshua (?????, which corresponds to the name Jesus in Hebrew).
Rabbi Kaduri passed away on January 28, 2006. His funeral was attended by the leading rabbis and politicians of Israel, as well as hundreds of thousands of followers.
In his old age, Rabbi Kaduri enjoyed eating Bamba, a popular children's snack.
 Jose Tomas Sanchez |  Gelasius I |  Anatoly Martynovsky |
 Pietro Parolin |  John Paul I |  Paulus VI |