"Why did we come here? Had we stayed in Bagdad, things would
have been much better," bewailed Sammara Manni, the wife of
the very esteemed R' Eliyahu Manni, as she looked at her sick
husband. She was at a loss to help him.
A young neighbor gave the couple, newly-come to Yerusholayim,
the name of a Greek doctor, who prescribed some medication
and instructed the patient to keep to a strict diet. "You
would be altogether better off moving away from the congested
town of Yerusholayim," he advised them.
"Where can we go?" asked the sick rabbi in a weak voice.
"The air in Hebron is much clearer and healthier, and the
living conditions are less crowded," he replied.
Both R' Eliyahu and his wife, Sammara, were hesitant. They
had come to Eretz Yisroel expressly to live in Yerusholayim.
Would they have to cast this dream temporarily aside?
*
A long line of men, women and children followed behind the
caravan of camels that moved along the streets of Bagdad,
loaded with spices, soft fabrics, rich and colorful carpets
and many assorted pots and pans. Sitting in large wicker
baskets hanging on the sides of the towering camels were
wealthy merchants. The leader of the caravan rode astride the
first camel and the entire line followed behind, tied one to
the other in a long row.
An entire Jewish family: a man and wife and their three
children, sat astride the last camel, which was burdened by
their household items and kitchenware, as well as packages of
food and clothing. A canopy was erected above their heads as
protection from the blazing sun. They couldn't have been very
comfortable on their high perch; nevertheless, they smiled
contentedly at the people on the streets.
Jewish passersby stopped to look at the family. Where were
they headed? Those who knew him passed the news on to the
others. This was a well-known rabbi, a student in Yeshivat
Beit Zilca whose wife was the sister of the esteemed rosh
yeshiva, R' Abdalla Somech. "The family is going off to
settle in Eretz Yisroel," they said.
"Why? What is he lacking here?" many voiced their surprise.
"R' Eliyahu is not lacking in honor as the brother-in-law of
the rosh yeshiva. He is one of the best students in Beit
Zilca. Besides, both his and his wife's parents are wealthy
and they support them. Why would they wish to go to a place
of poverty?"
This was the very question that had disturbed Sammara, and
she had attempted to dissuade her husband from going. But R'
Eliyahu was determined. "The very air of Eretz Yisroel is
full of holiness, It is much more conducive to Torah
study."
In the end, the dutiful wife capitulated. They packed their
belongings and joined the caravan.
The voyage was filled with unusual events. As Shabbos
approached, they realized that the leader of the caravan
would not keep his agreement about not traveling, and so they
remained behind, all alone in the desert. They traveled
quickly all night on motzaei Shabbos, however, and
succeeded in overtaking the caravan.
Traveling across the desert through the blazing heat of day
and chill of night was very difficult but their suffering
came to an end and they were welcomed with open arms, at the
gates of Yerusholayim, by the great scholars of the Bet El
yeshiva.
R' Eliyahu did not fare well in Yerusholayim, however.
Although he recovered from his sickness, he remained weak and
had to move to Hebron where the climate suited him better.
This city seemed to agree with him, and Sammara also settled
in well, soon realizing that Providence had meant this to be.
R' Eliyahu studied together with R' Ferarra, the venerable
chief rabbi of the holy city of Hebron, and eventually, he
became its chief rabbi.
The Manni couple dedicated their lives to helping the poor
and when R' Eliyahu was forced to travel abroad to raise
money for the needy of Hebron, Sammara, a very learned woman,
was sometimes called upon to help supply halachic guidance
for the questions that arose. She also studied regularly with
the women of the city and taught them Midrashim on the weekly
parsha. Various diseases attacked the residents and
at one point, R' Eliyahu lost his eyesight. He recovered it
through a strange tale that is told and retold by the
residents of Hebron.
One day, two strange Arab travelers arrived in the city. They
boasted that they were physicians and could cure the rabbi's
eyes but demanded a sack of flour for their fee. Sammara
agreed upon this payment and let them operate on her
husband.
They operated and lo and behold, R' Eliyahu's eyesight was
restored. Just as strange was the fact that as soon as they
had finished their ministrations, the two Arabs disappeared,
without even collecting their fee.
