It is with gratitude to Hashem Yitbarah and with His help, I have founded the Kollel Or Yaakov in Beit Shemesh, Israel.
This Kollel is a Torah learning centre that will develop young Torah scholars to become full fledge rabbis and certifying them to conduct full cycle events in the Jewish community across Israel.
This Kollel is founded to commemorate two individuals who have had a big impact in my life: My dear father Yaakov ben Aziza and Rav Avraham Sultan Ztsl; and Rabbi Eliyahu Atzour Ztsl , the Head of the Rabbinical court of Jerusalem and Member of the Supreme Court from X (mark the period). May their memory be blessed.
My father came from a lineage of rabbis who offered Torah services pro-bono to their community in Debdou.
My father’s dream was to have a son to follow in the path of his father who was an illustrious rabbi in Debdou. Throughout his lifetime, my father invested tirelessly in me even though he was a simple man. Yaakov Ish Tamim.
I am generating the energy from my father to build the future generation of rabbis that will realize my father’s dream and continue the great Torah dedication as my grandfather, Rabbi Avraham Sultan did in his community in Debdou.
I will work arduously to build this Kollel and attract many young Torah scholars to the centre. When someone has a dream, plant it like a seed, it will sprout and it will come to fruition. May Hashem give me the strength to bring this dream to realization.
Aside to being the Head of the Rabbinical courts of Jerusalem and Member of the Supreme Court, Rabbi Eliyahu Atzour Ztsl dedicated his life to the needs of Jewish communities across the globe. Although Rav Atzour was a very busy man, he would never ask me to call him back later. He would carve time in his busy schedule to discuss all matters I wish to raise. He was a mentor to many.
In the early 90’s I had the opportunity to help him resolve the 19 top cases of Agunot
( chained women / whom men would flee from their wives and refused to give them the Jewish divorce documents) under the leadership of the Chief Rabbi Rishon Letzion Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu Ztsl of blessed memory.
Rabbi Atzour Ztsl and my Dad had a special relationship. In the year of my father’s passing, he described my father as a walking Mesilat Yesharim ( the path of Truth author Rabbi Chaim Luzatto known as Ramchal) A man with strong morals . Even though he didn’t have any formal education in Torah, my father had wisdom built through his experience in life as he had taken the responsibility to take care of his sisters when his father passed away. My father desired his sisters to marry to respectful families. This would not have been possible without the support of my mother, Saida ( Danielle) Sultan who was, and is until now, the corner stone of our family. May we wish her a long life. Amen!
I am grateful to Rabbi Eliyahu Abergel Shlita, Head of Rabbinical Courts of Jerusalem & Member of Supreme Court, who has encouraged me and guided to make this project into a realization. We both had a very strong relationship with Rabbi Atzour Ztsl and we finally agreed that now is a perfect time to establish a Kollel in commemoration of Rabbi Atzour Ztsl.
It is a honour for me be accompanied side by side with Rabbi Abergel Shlita as the Honorary President of the Kollel Or Yaakov. I want to also wish him Refuah Sheleima, a speedy recovery, and to continue to guide Am Yisrael with the vision and mentorship that he received from Rabbi Shalom Messas Ztsl, former Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem & Head Rabbinical Courts and Former Chief Rabbi and President of the Rabbinical Courts of Morrocco.
May the Kollel Or Yaakov be a symbol of gratitude to Hashem for the wisdom He has given to Am Yisrael through Torah and to honour the illustrious Rabbis who have provided help across the globe and the creation of a generation of strong Torah scholars who will be a lighthouse in their community.
May their neshamot advocate for us in the Heavens from Hashem to bring the Final Redemption for Am Yisrael. Amen
Rabbi Avraham Sultan Shlita
Head of Kollel Or Yaakov