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Sunday, November 17, 2013

The commercialization of Rabbinic Families - the new Siddur Knesset Yisrael סדור כנסת ישראל

Forget everything you've ever learned about prayer, we finally have the futuristic Siddur we have all been awaiting for in the new edition of Siddur Knesset Yisrael. Commercialization of Rabbinic families is nothing new, but this siddur takes it to a new approach. Here is the text that is embossed on the back cover of the attractive prayerbook:
כל המחזיק סדור קדוש זה בביתו יהיה לו סגולה לרפואה ברכה הצלחה חיים ארוכים פרנסה טובה בנים זכרים זרע של  קיימא ובריא מזלייהו בזכות מר"ן אביר יעקב זיע"א וסידנא בבא סאלי זיע"א
"Anyone who owns this holy prayerbook in his home will be blessed with health, prosperity, success, long life, children and good luck in the merit of Rabbi Yaakov Abuhatzeira and the Baba Sali"
This statement is followed by facsimiles of signatures of the great Abuhatzeira family, Rabbi Yaakov Abuhatzeira and Rabbi Yisrael Abuhatzeira, the Baba Sali.

No longer is there any need to meditate in prayer, or apparently pray at all, just having this siddur (no other will work it seems) in your home, guarantees you all your heart's desires. If you were wondering what the siddur's connection to the Baba Sali is, there is none at all, other than it being published by his son, R. Baruch Abuhatzeira.




update 1/3/14:
Following this trend, here is an advertisement from the latest catalog of the publishers Oz Vehadar:


The sales pitch for the Sefarim of Rabbi Yaakov Abuhatzeira is "Having these Seforim at home is known for segulas and yeshuas and a bundle of brachas".
Who came up with this brainstorm is beyond me, but I highly doubt that Rabbi Yaakov, wrote the highly complex Rabbinic Responsa Yuru Mishpatecha LeYaakov, so you can keep it in your home to ward of demons.

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