Shenei Hameorot Hagedolim: The Key To Our Survival

The 4th of Kislev is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Eliyahu Kubo, Av Beis Din of Salonika, author of Aderet Eliyahu and Sheni Hame’orot Hagedolim (~1628-1688). The Kubo family had immigrated to Greece from Spain during the Spanish expulsion. Rav Eliyahu became Chief Rabbi in Salonika.

If one considers the wealth of Torah that is written despite our suffering and exile from place to place, one realizes that we possess something that can never be taken away by others, our Torah, which provides us with our connection with God. In this I rejoice despite having witnessed the suffering of so many. I believe that this is what will keep us alive until the redemption, may it be speedily in our days. (Shenei Hameorot Hagedolim)