Amram Aburbeh

Amram Aburbeh was born on March 16, 1892 (17 Adar 5652) in Tétouan, Morocco.[1] During his youth, he studied in Midrash Shlomo, a beit midrash (study hall) run by his father, Rabbi Shlomo Aburbeh. His mother was Yocheved Khalfon.[1]

In 1906 Aburbeh immigrated to Palestine with his paternal grandparents, Rabbi Yosef and Billiada Aburbeh.[1][2] The rest of the family followed them 7 years later, settling in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. Here Aburbeh's father held a yeshiva in his home called Or Zaruaa. Aburbeh studied in the Touvy Yisba'u yeshiva of the Ma'araviim congregation until 1910.[1] He later studied in the Porat Yosef Yeshiva.[1] He received rabbinical ordination from his teacher, Rabbi Yosef Haim HaCohen, president and Rabad (chief judge) Rosh Av Beit Din of the Ma'araviim congregation in Jerusalem, when he was 29 years old.[1] Aburbeh also became a certified shochet (ritual slaughter) and bodek. He married his teacher's daughter, Rivka, in 1919; the couple had five sons and one daughter.[1] Aburbeh co-owned abookstore with his colleague Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Shloush, head of the Ma'araviim congregation in Jerusalem.[1][2] The bookstore sold Hebrew religious books and Judaica of which it also exported to North African Jewry and other communities in the Diaspora, such as Beirut, Lebanon.[1][2] The store operated first in the Old City in Jerusalem (its catalogue indicates it was established in 1896) and later was relocated to the Mahane Yehuda neighborhood.[1] Among the prayer books published in Jerusalem by Amram Aburbeh in 1933 is Siddur Shalom Yerushalem סדור שלום ירושלם כמנהג ק"ק ספרדים יוצאי המערב והמזרח . In 1941 Siddur V'Ani Tefilah סידור ואני תפלה כולל תפלות כל היום כמנהג ק"ק ספרדים was published; and in 1942 siddur "Seder Tefilah: According to tradition of Sefaradim holy community, including daily Tefilot for year round" סדר תפלה [Seder Tfilah]. סדר תפלה: ק"ק ספרדים, כולל תפלות לכל ימות השנה . In addition he sold Psalms books such as ספר תהלים מרום ציון [Sefer Tehilim Marom Zion]. ספר תהלים מרום ציון עם באור המלות עם מקור הדמעה וחנוכת הבית . Rabbi Amram Aburbeh's bookstore also sold books in the Ladino language: such as the siddur סדר מנחה וערבית של חול ושבת [Seder Mincha and Arvit of weekdays and Shabbat]. junto mincha de shabbat con el brich גונטו לה מנחה די שבת קון איל בריך and ספר שבחי האר״י [Sefer Shivchei HaAri] (in Ladino). 1911. (see citation links in Further Reading section).

Rabbi Amram Aburbeh received a license by the Government of Eretz Israel in 1942 to ship Etrogs abroad to the Jewish communities. This was published in the Official Gazette of the Government, issue no. 1204, page 617.

In addition to his occupation at the shop, Aburbeh taught at Porat Yosef Yeshiva[1] and at Yeshivat Shaarey Zion, established by Chief Rabbi Ben-Zion Meir Hai Uziel. Uziel appointed Aburbeh as Chief Rabbi of the Nachlaot neighborhood in Jerusalem, where he served from 1925-1951.[1][2] During the same time, Aburbeh was a dayan (religious court judge) for the Ma'araviim rabbinical court in Jerusalem, headed by Rabbi Ben-Zion Avraham Cuenca.[1] In 1934 Aburbeh was appointed as shadar (funds emissary) on behalf of the Ma'araviim institutions in Jerusalem. He was dispatched to Morocco, where he successfully collected funds for a year.[1] His return to Eretz Israel on September 6, 1934 was documented by the Jewish Agency administration as a registered passenger on the ship Roma

Cornerstone-laying ceremony for the Or Zaruaa synagogue, 1926

In 1920 Aburbeh was among the founders of the new Jerusalem neighborhood of Bayit Vegan.[1] In 1926 he founded and built a new synagogue in the Nachlaot neighborhood for the Ma'araviim congregation called Or Zaruaa,[1] which he named after the beit midrash headed by his late father. This new synagogue included a beit midrash that he headed. Or Zaruaa Synagogue was chosen to be included as one of the buildings for preservation in Jerusalem. In 1930 Aburbeh was elected as an executive committee member of the Ma'araviim congregation in Jerusalem.[1]

Or Zaruaa Synagogue

Rabbi Amram Aburbeh, a known philanthropist thanks to his multiple donations over the years 1940-1943 to the Sephardic General Orphanage in Jerusalem as his name appears among lists of two synagogues: The Avraham Memorial of the Ma'araviim congregation and Bayit VaGan of 100 mill (currency) and 50 mill (currency), respectively. He was an active Zionist, and took part in the struggle to establish the state of Israel. The British Mandate authorities in Palestine arrested him due to his connections with the Haganah paramilitary organization. During this time, Aburbeh volunteered for the Mishmar Ha'Am (People's Guard). His sons were members of the Notrim police force and later served in the Israel Defense Forces.[1]

An official publication Reshumot (Portofolio of Notifications 130) announcement on the election to Jerusalem municipality council, that were held on 14 November 1950, states that among the approved candidates Rabbi Amram Aburbeh was candidate number 7 to honor the Yichud Shevet Yehudah party candidates list, representing the religious Sephardi Jews.

In 1951 Aburbeh was elected by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel Council as Chief Rabbi of the Sephardic congregation of Petah Tikva. He served alongside the city's Ashkenazi chief rabbi, Rabbi Reuven Katz. Aburbeh gave lectures in several of Petah Tikva's downtown synagogues, including Beth Israel, Ohel Chaim, and Beit Avraham (called the "Great Sephardic Synagogue", which he founded). On Shabbat he gave lectures in additional neighborhoods. He was a member of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel Council and chairman of the National Rabbinical Council of the Sephardic community.[1]

Aburbeh died on December 20, 1966 (7 Tevet 5727) in Petah Tikva and was buried in the Segula cemetery in that city[1] beside his wife, Rivka.[2]

• Netivei Am (Hebrew: נתיבי-עם‎), Jerusalem customs, responsa and collected sermons, published in two volumes; Vol. 1 pub. 1963, Vol. 2 pub. 1966; second edition 1969.third edition 1977, fourth edition 1989, fifth edition 2006.[1] sixth edition 2014 נתיבי עם. He received approbations for his sefarim from Rabbi Ovadia Hadaya, Rabb Ezra Attiya, Chief Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, and in later editions published by his sons Chief Rabbi Eliyahu Bakshi-Doron, Rabbi She'ar Yashuv Cohen, and Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar;[1] the latter was one of the last students to be rabbinically ordained by Aburbeh. Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef cited from Netive Am book by Rabbi Amram Aburbeh , during a Rosh Hashanah lecture about the Halakha concerning Ten Days of Repentance prayers of Tefilat Amidah Shemoneh Esreh, Hamelech Hamishpat .
• ספר שבחי האר״י [Sefer Shivchei HaAri] (in Ladino). 1911.
• ברית עולם [Brit Olam]. Amram Aburbeh. 1948.
• חסד ואמת [Chesed Ve'Emet: Jewish mourning laws and customs]. Chevra Kadisha Jerusalem. 1996.

Aburbeh also edited the prayer book (siddur) Siddur Rinat Israel Rinat Yisrael Sephardic and Edot ha-Mizrach Nusach and composed a special prayer for the recovery of injured Israeli soldiers.

Netivei Am Street in the Ramot Alon neighbourhood of Jerusalem.

Amram Aburbeh street in the Ein Ganim neighbourhood Petah Tikva, Israel.

Memorials to Aburbeh were dedicated in several places and institutions in Israel:

• Netivei Am AMIT schools, in Beersheba and Yeruham Toranic and Scientific Education branches[3][4][5]
• Netivei Am Street in the Ramot Alon neighbourhood of Jerusalem; Aburbeh Street in the Ein Ganim neighbourhood of Petah Tikva[2]
• Beit Midrash Netivei Am in Beersheba

Beit HaKnesset HaAl-Adati HaKippah Synagogue and Beit HaMidrash Netivei-Am ,Shechunah Hey Ledugma, Beer-Sheva , Exterior image. 1971.

Beit HaKnesset HaAl-Adati HaKippah Synagogue and Beit HaMidrash Netivei-Am ,Shechunah Hey Ledugma, Beer-Sheva , Interior image. 1971.

• Aburbeh Scholars Fund for Student Excellence
• Netivei Am organization to acquire rescue equipment[6]
• Or Zaruaa Synagogue, Jerusalem, Israel unveiling of metal plate event honoring and commemorating Rabbi Amram Aburbeh as founder of the synagogue for the Ma'araviim community in Nachlaot neighbourhood with the participants Chief Rabbi Eliyahu Bakshi-Doron,and Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar.[7]
• A Sefer Torah was written as a memorial to honor Rabbi Amram Aburbeh and his wife Rivka. It was donated by their sons and daughter in 1968 to The Great Sephardic Synagogue in Petach Tikva called Beit Avraham. Later it was transferred to Mishkan Yonah synagogue in Petach Tikva. In 2017 this Torah scroll was borrowed by the synagogue of Arbel religious Elementary school in Nof HaGalil.

A Sefer Torah written in honor of Aburbeh and his wife Rivka.

• 
  Catalog of items sold by Aburbeh's and Shloush's Judaica store, listing Torah scrolls, tefillin, mezuzahs, megillot, tallitot, tzitzit, shofars, shechita knives, siddurim, and religious books.
• 
  "Rabbi Amram Aburbeh's big store for Torah scrolls, Tefillin and Mezuzahs moved to the yard in front of Friedman store in the Old City of Jerusalem", an ad in Geulah Calendar for 1930 by the editor L. Shachor (Eretz Israel).
• 
  Announcement to Senders of Tefillin and Mezuzahs abroad. Rabbi Amram Aburbeh, Mahne Yehudah Jerusalem among the licensed to check Tefillin and Mezuzahs . Published in HABOKER newspaper on 16.5.1941 page 8.
• 
  Title page of Siddur V'Ani Tefilah, prayers in the Sephardic tradition, published by Rabbi Amram Aburbeh & Co., Jerusalem, 1941.
• 
  Title page of Siddur Rinat Israel, Rinat Yisrael Nusach HaSfaradim and Edot HaMizrach.
• 
  Sefer Tehilim (Psalms book) Marom Zion. Amram Aburbeh bookstore, Mahane Yehudah, Jerusalem
• 
  Rabbi Amram Aburbeh memorial plaque at Or Zaruaa synagogue, Jerusalem, Israel. Rabbi Amram Aburbeh, author of Netivei Am, served as the synagogue's rabbi since its establishment in 1927 till 1951.
• 
  Residence of Petah Tikva Chief Rabbi, author of Netivei Am, Rabbi Amram Aburbeh.

• "Zionism and the State of Israel as Viewed by Leading Sephardic-Oriental rabbis (1948-1967)", in On Both Sides Of The Bridge: Religion and State in the Early Years of Israel. Mordechay Bar-On and Zvi Zameret, eds. 2002. Jerusalem:Yad Ben Zvi.
• Zvi Zohar on Rabbi Amram Aburbeh, in Daf LeTarbut Yehudit, Ministry of Education, Aryeh Strikovski editor, vol. 277, 2008, pp. 54 – 58.
• Zvi Zohar, The Luminous Face of the East: Studies in the Legal and Religious Thought of the Sephardic Rabbis of the Middle East. Tel Aviv: 2001. (Hebrew)
• המסע לגילוי המנהג הספרדי-ירושלמי: הרב עמרם אבורביע ויצירתו נתיבי עם ("The Journey to Uncover the Sephardi-Yerushalmi Custom: Rabbi Amram Aburbeh and his Opus, Netivei Am"), in Rabbi Uzziel And His Contemporaries: Law, Leadership and Values, Zvi Zohar and Shalom Ratzabi eds. 2009, pp. 120–165.
• Malka, G. (January–February 2009). "קוים לדמותו של בעל ה-נתיבי עם". HaMeasef: 124–128.
• Neri Horovitz, "The Shas party and Zionism: Historical Analysis, New Directions" Archived 2012-10-28 at the Wayback Machine, Judaism and Zionism Journal, vol. 2, 2000, pp. 30 – 60.
• Chachmey HaMa'arav BiYerushalayim חכמי המערב בירושלים: פרקים בתולדות חייהם ופעולותיהם של חכמי המערב (מרוקו) מהמאה הי"ט ועד ימינו ("Chachmey HaMa'arav BiYerushalayim Prakim BeToldot Chayehem VePeulotehem shel Chachmey HaMa'arav (Morocco) BiYerushalayim meHameah Ha19 VeAd Yamenu") pp.390-400, Shelomoh Dayan Editor. 1992. Jerusalem
• Shimon Reem, "Stories beyond tombstones in Petach Tikva". Amram Aburbeh p. 45. Shimon Reem editor, 2015. Haifa
• "HaRambam Library, "AMHASEFER Blog Manager. "Incredible events".Amram Aburbeh." December 26,2019. Tel Aviv.
• "Rabbi Amram Aburbeh ZTz'L" ספר אורח צדיקים חלק א' תולדות חייהם ומעשיהם של כמאה וחמישים מגדולי ישראל ("Orach Tzadikim Part 1 Toldot Chayehem U'Ma'aseyhem shel KeMeah VeChamishim MiGdoley Israel") pp.360-363, Daniel Moshe Elul Editor. 2003. Bet Shemesh.
• סדר תפלה [Seder Tfilah]. Amram Aburbeh. 1942.
• סדר מנחה וערבית של חול ושבת [Seder Mincha and Arvit of weekdays and Shabbat] (in Ladino). Sinai.
• ספר תהלים מרום ציון [Sefer Tehilim Marom Zion].
• סדור שלום ירושלם [Siddur Shalom Yerushalem]. Rabbi Yosef Y Shloush and his partner Rabbi Amram Aburbeh. 1933.

• Petah-Tikva historic museum website – Rabbi Amaram Aburbeh (Hebrew)