The Baba Sali's Sacred Shirt, with the Sweat of his Pure Heart

The Baba Sali's Sacred Shirt, with the Sweat of his Pure Heart

"It is said that the the Dinor river flows from the sweat of the chayot hakodesh" (Ba'al HaTurim, Bereishit 8)

White cotton shirt, custom made, worn on the pure body of the greatest Kabbalist of recent generations, the Admo"r Rabbi Yisrael Abuchatzeira - the 'Baba Sali' for many years, as attested in the enclosed confirmation. The left part of the shirt, by the heart, bears a chilling light sweat stain.

The bottom half of the shirt is made as one unit and it is pulled on over the head (like an undershirt). The top of the shirt closes with a series of buttons. The Baba Sali wore this shirt directly on his body, with no intervention, adjacent to his pure heart - the heart of the Jewish people. Unlike regular shirts where the left side buttons over the right, on the Baba Sali's shirt, the buttons close right over left. This technique was used by leading Kabbalists and Chassidim so that the right side, symbolizing sanctity, rules over the left.

The segulah power of items that were used by a tzaddik are known to Jews for thousands of years, already from Talmudic times. Talmud Yerushalmi, Tractate Nedarim, relates that one of the sages of the Jewish people became wiser than his colleagues. He was asked how he received all this wisdom. He responded, "I had Rabbi Meir's rod in my hand, and it taught me wisdom. (Yerushalmi Nedarim 29b). That is, the very fact that he held a tzaddik's belonging in his hand increased his wisdom.

This idea repeats itself throughout the generations, across all circles and communities. The Ba'al Shem Tov was said to have stated that an item used by a tzaddik has the power to influence the person possessing it, and is capable of bringing salvation. "The nefesh, ruach and neshamah of a person's soul are enveloped by his belongings. As these aspects of his soul are enveloped in them; there is no greater connection." (Keter Shem Tov, Part I, 194). The Admo"r Rabbi Mordechai of Neshchiz was likewise said to have stated as follows regarding the vessel given to him by his teacher Rabbi Michel of Zlotchov: "This vessel has the power to do miracles and wonders" (Divrei Binah leaf 47).

The Chata"m Sofer, who is not counted among Chassidim, writes in his book about the clothing of tzaddikim: "The Yerushalmi implies that a person's garment is influenced by the sanctity of its wearer, and one who wears it after him receives that same spirit for better or worse. This is the secret by which a person's sons wear it after him." (Chatam Sofer al HaTorah, parashat Toldot.)

Similar words are echoed by the Ben Ish Chai in his book Ben Yehoyada: "All material items used for sacred matters receive some of the sanctity that hovered over them. Therefore our Sages said regarding a rock that Rabbi Eliezer ben Horkanus always sat on when he studied Torah, that it is similar to Mount Sinai. So too the walking stick that a prophet leaned on while conducting sacred yichudim, when he rested his forehead and head on it while experiencing Divine inspiration. Therefore, Elisha HaNavi told Geichazi to take his walking stick and put it over the mouth of the boy to resuscitate him. So too Rabbi Pinchas Ben Yair's designated donkey that he would ride from place to place through the desert. He would conduct yichudim while he was riding it and occupying himself with the Torah's secrets, clarifying them along his way. As such, this donkey acquired a characteristic of sanctity by which Divine Inspiration always hovered over it. (Ben Yehoyada on Sanhedrin 95a)

This shirt absorbed so many years of sanctity and purity, Torah and tefillah, wonders and revelations, while worn on the sacred body of the leading Kabbalist. It is startling to think about the influences of wisdom and sanctity that will impact one who wears this sacred garb. According to the above words of the Ben Ish Chai, "They have a spirit of sanctity." What higher powers will its wearer receive, according to the above words of the Chata"m Sofer - "One who wears it after him receives that same spirit for better or worse!" What miracles can be enacted with it, as the Admo"r of Neshchiz said (above) "This vessel has the power to enact miracles and wonders!"

This cotton shirt was received from the Baba Sali as a segulah for protection and success by the legendary attendant, Rabbi Eliyahu Alfasi, who was the Baba Sali's faithful attendant for 14 whole years and did not move from his side. It is known that the Baba Sali would very affectionately say about him, "If I could bind him to me with tefillin straps so that he would not move from my side, I would have done so." As appears in the confirmation included from Rabbanit Sima, Rabbi Eliyahu Alfasi's widow, "This shirt served the Baba Sali for many years and he gave it to my husband, Rabbi Eliyahu Elfasi while he was attending to him."

Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of Rabbi Yisrael Abuchatzeira.

This is a most sacred and personal item, worn by the Baba Sali on his body with nothing intervening, directly over his pure heart. Aside from the segulahs indicated above, discussed by world rabbinic leaders, there is another segulah hidden specifically in this shirt - defense and excellent protection from murder, as the gemara states (Talmud Bavli Zevachim 88b) on the verse "a sacred fabric garment" about the kohanim's robe: "The robe atones for spilling blood, as it says, "Slaughter a goat and dip the robe in blood." This segulah is certainly essential in this terrible days that are getting worse every day, in the Land of Israel and worldwide.

Specifications: White cotton shirt, custom made by G&M, New York. Large size, as the Baba Sali was known to have been tall. Signed confirmation included from Rabbanit Sima, widow of the legendary attendant, Eliyahu Alfasi.

Fine condition. Usage marks, and one chilling sweat stain on the left side of the shirt, right by the Baba Sali's pure heart.