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Shocking Incident: Robbers Cut Beard of Rechasim Rabbi
Shock and Horror: The gaon Rabbi Moshe Tanami, shlita, the Sefardic Rabbi of Rechasim and head of the "Ohr Chadash" institutions in the community, was on a trip to South America when he was attacked by robbers. The thieves, who were high on drugs, demanded money from the rabbi – they made off with only $20, but not before cutting off the rabbi's beard with a scissors.
The incident occurred last week, when Rabbi Tanami was traveling in South America to conduct important business for the institutions he heads in his community, "Ohr Chadash". He had the bad luck of passing though a dangerous area, and was attacked by sadistic robbers.
"On my trip for the benefit of "Ohr Chadash", I went to one of the countries in South America, in order to collect money for the institution. Unfortunately, on the last day of my trip, 3 men who were probably on drugs attacked me, and asked me for money. All I had in my possession was $20, and I immediately gave it to them. They got angry that I didn't have any more cash, and one of them pulled out a scissors and cut off my beard," Rabbi Tanami said in an interview with "Arutz 7".
"I was shocked and afraid, and yelled the name of the institution, "Ohr Chadash", at the top of my lungs. People came and chased the robbers away, and baruch Hashem I was not physically hurt. But I was ashamed to see my image in a mirror without my beard. I hope that it will soon grow back into a beard fitting for a rabbi in Israel," he said with great pain.
Rabbi Tanami most certainly experienced siyata d'Shamaya. "This was a true case of hashgacha from above, and I believe that in the merit of the children whom I was collecting funds, my life was spared during those terrifying moments."
Will the rabbi cease making trips out of Israel to collect donations for the institution? Clearly not. Rabbi Tanami said, "Despite everything, I will continue to collect donations for the institutions, and for am Yisrael."