Rav Eliyohu HaKohen of Izmir zt"l
הרב אליהו בן אברהם שלמה מאיזמיר זצ"ל
Adar 21 , 5489
Rav Eliyohu HaKohen of Izmir zt"l
Rabbi Eliyohu Hakohen of Izmir, Turkey [1650 - 1 Adar B 1729], is best known as the author of Shevet Mussar, a major work of Torah ethics and morality. He also wrote Midrash Talpiot. In the historical work, Shem HaGedolim, it states, "Rabbi Eliyahu HaKohen of Izmir wrote almost 40 books and turned many away from sin with his public lectures."
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Stories of Rav Eliyohu HaKohen of Izmir zt"l
Rav Chaim Palagi told how once the mechaber of Shevet Mussar woke early one morning and rose to study Torah. When he put on his belt, he did not notice that he had in fact accidentally lifted a live, long serpent from the floor and tied it around his own waist! It was dark and he could not see, and so he simply tied the snake like a belt. In this manner, the Tzaddik sat himself down and studied Torah. As he sat shuckling back and forth in motion to the singsong words of learning, the knot became slowly undone and the snake unwound itself and slithered off, miraculously, not biting the Tzaddik. To commemorate this miracle, Rav Eliyohu authored the sefer Ezor Eliyohu – “The belt of Eliyohu”. From his holy works of Torah we can see that this story is not farfetched for someone of such stature, may his merit shield us! (Tenufa Chaim, by Rav Chaim Palagi, Shoftim 15)