“Are You Elijah the Prophet?” The Remarkable Story of Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu

Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu zt”l, one of the most revered Sephardic rabbis and kabbalists of his generation, was known for his extraordinary Torah knowledge, devotion to the Jewish people, and close relationships with some of the greatest Torah figures of his time. From his childhood in Jerusalem’s Old City to his years as Israel’s Sephardic Chief Rabbi, his life was shaped by Torah, public service, and an unwavering longing for redemption.

A Father Who Chose Torah

Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu zt”l was born in 1929 in Jerusalem’s Old City to his father, Rabbi Chacham Salman Eliyahu zt”l, and his mother, Mrs. Mazal zt”l.

His father’s own journey to Torah was remarkable.

Rabbi Salman grew up in Iraq in a family that valued secular education. When he was about 18 years old, his parents planned to send him to England to study business administration.

A few days before his departure, the young man passed the Beit Zilkha study hall in Baghdad and heard the sound of Torah learning pouring through the windows. Captivated by the sweetness of the learning, he entered the study hall.

He remained there for several hours. By the time he left, he had made a life-changing decision: From that point on, he wanted to dedicate his life to Torah.

When Rabbi Salman returned home and told his family, they were shocked and strongly opposed his decision. Yet he firmly turned down the material opportunities that would have come with studying abroad and pursuing a prestigious profession. Instead, he chose a life devoted to Torah.

Within a short time, he became one of the outstanding students of the yeshiva, and eventually his family came to support his decision.

That extraordinary self-sacrifice for Torah would become part of the spiritual foundation of the home in which Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu was raised.

From Jerusalem’s Old City to the Rabbinate

Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu grew up in a home filled with Torah. Despite poverty and crowded living conditions, his parents instilled in their children a deep love of Torah, dedication to mitzvot, and commitment to acts of kindness.

As a young man, Rabbi Eliyahu spent time serving Torah scholars and learning not only from their teachings, but also from the way they lived.

After his marriage, he completed his studies to become a dayan, a rabbinical judge. At just 28 years old, he was appointed the youngest dayan in Israel.

Even in his younger years, Rabbi Eliyahu distinguished himself through his tremendous mastery of Torah alongside his tireless work on behalf of the public. His approach was characterized by a profound love for the Jewish people, and Jews from many different backgrounds were drawn to him.

His Special Connection With the Baba Sali

Rabbi Eliyahu maintained a particularly close and warm relationship with the Baba Sali, one of the great spiritual leaders of Moroccan Jewry.

It is told that one day, the Baba Sali sent his attendant to tell Rabbi Eliyahu that it had been decided in Heaven that he would become Israel’s chief rabbi.

About two weeks later, Rabbi Eliyahu was appointed Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel, the Rishon LeZion. He would serve in the position for 10 years.

Their relationship was also accompanied by remarkable stories.

On one occasion, Rabbi Eliyahu and his wife traveled to Netivot to visit the Baba Sali. Their visit continued late into the evening, and they became concerned that they would miss the last bus back to Jerusalem.

The Baba Sali reassured them that the bus would wait.

When the couple eventually arrived at the station, they were astonished to find the bus still there, even though nearly half an hour had passed since its scheduled departure.

The driver explained that the bus simply would not start and that he had already called for a replacement.

Rabbi Eliyahu and his wife boarded anyway and asked the driver to try once more.

This time, the bus started immediately.

Stunned, the driver turned to Rabbi Eliyahu and asked, “Are you Elijah the Prophet?”

Rabbi Eliyahu replied with characteristic simplicity and wit: “I am Eliyahu Mordechai.”

His Connection With the Lubavitcher Rebbe

Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu zt”l also shared a close and remarkable relationship with the Lubavitcher Rebbe. He visited the Rebbe several times for private yechidut, and their meetings reflected their shared concern for the Jewish people and their deep longing for the final redemption.

Following a private yechidut with the Rebbe in 1992, Rabbi Eliyahu initiated a handwritten psak halacha concerning the urgent need for the coming of Mashiach and the redemption. Twenty-three rabbis and dayanim signed the ruling.

The document remained deeply significant to Rabbi Eliyahu. When he passed away, it was placed in his hand for burial, expressing the hope that he would continue advocating in the upper worlds for the coming of the redemption.

From the sacrifice for Torah that shaped his childhood home to his own decades of Torah leadership, Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu’s life reflected a powerful combination of scholarship, service to the Jewish people, and faith. The stories surrounding him continue to preserve the memory of a rabbi whose influence reached Jews from across the Jewish world.