Baba Sali and the Watch

Platinum Member Joined: Sep 20 2004 Posts: 17151

in an interview with Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, chief rabbi of Tzfas and son of former Rishon L'Tzion, Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu, in Mishpacha magazine, issue #70, he was asked about the watch story going around and this is what he said:

"My father was very close to the Baba Sali zt'l. They would often study together. A few years before he was niftar, the Baba Sali gave my father a new Shabbos coat and told him that he was to save it carefully, because he would merit to see the coming of Moshiach and should wear the coat to greet him. The Baba Sali told my father that he himself would not live to see Moshiach; he cut off a piece of his hair and placed it in the pocket of the coat, saying that at least part of him would be present to welcome Moshiach.

"A few years later the Baba Sali was niftar (1984) and Rabbi Mordechai, together with all of us, are still waiting for Moshiach.

"One day, the Baba Sali's son came to my father and presented him with a watch. He explained that his holy father had come to him in a dream and told him that he should look in a certain drawer in a certain desk, where he would find this watch.

"He was to give it to my father and tell him that when the watch reached 12 o'clock, then Moshiach would come. At that time, the watch hands showed 10:40. Since then, my father keeps a very close eye on the watch and found that sometimes it goes and other times it just stops."

What time does it show now?

"11:58" Exclamation

Gold Member Joined: May 18 2005 Posts: 1254

from http://www.yiddishkeit.org/Default_YK.asp?ItemCode=827

About the watch (actually, two watches) which the Holy Baba Sali, ztzvk"l gave to Harav Mordechai Eliyahu, shlita (a question answered by his son, Harav Shmuel Eliyahu, shlita)

Question:
Not long ago I heard that [after he passed away] the Baba Sali, ztvk"l left a watch that doesn't work. I heard that at exactly 12:00 [on this watch] Moshiach will come, and that the time on the watch was then at 11:30 and that over the years the hands have moved and not long ago the watch came to 11:59, a minute before the coming of Moshiach. Is there a basis to this rumor?

Answer:
bs"d

Yes.

But there is much more to the story. I don't know if the watch was at the time you heard or what the time is today, but the Rav absolutely said "a minute to twelve".
But you should know that there are two watches, and I don't know why there are two, or what each one is for. But I saw with my own eyes the watch and I saw things occur around the watch that are beyond the natural.
So what does it all mean?
I didn't receive the watch, and only the one who received it knows how to explain what's going on with it.
In any event, I once asked my Rabbi and teacher, my father, shlita, and I received an answer:
"Krova yeshuati lavo" -- "My salvation is near to come".This is part of the prophecy of Yeshayahu (Isaiah 56:1):
"So says the Lord, 'Keep justice and practice righteousness, for My salvation is near to come, and My benevolence to be revealed.'"
In other words, if you want the watch to move ahead -- do what is written in the verse!

Best regards,
Harav Shmuel Eliyahu, shlita (son of Harav Mordechai Eliyahu, shlita)
source: http://www.moriya.org.il/shut/indexid.asp?id=12744
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Platinum Member Joined: Sep 20 2004 Posts: 17151

there's a program called Mabat L'Yahadut which is on motzoei Shabbos on Arutz 1

on a recent program, journalist Uri Revach was asked about his visit with R' Mordechai Eliyahu and the story of the 2 watches

he said that R' Mordechai said that there are two watches that the son of Baba Sali gave him because of a dream. Babai Sali had asked his son to give R' Eliyahu the gold watch. R' Mordechai put the silver watch on the gold watch, rachamim (silver) over din (gold). When he received the watches they were at 3:00.

the interview as I'm reading it is somewhat incoherent

later it says:

Baba Sali asked his son, in a dream, to give R' Mordechai the gold watch. A few months later he came again and said to give him the silver watch.

When asked when the watch will move to 12, I.e. Moshiach will come, R' Mordechai said:

"When it will happen? With all due respect to Moshiach, when he comes I will ask him one question: Why so late???? We've been waiting for you for so long!"

When asked what to do to hasten the Geula, R' Mordechai said:

Each person should think what good thing have I yet to do. What good thing can I do: tzedaka, chesed

Posted: Thu, Sep 01 2005, 5:17 am Post subject: re: Baba Sali and the Watch

I have not heard this story before, it sounds really amazing.

Posted: Thu, Sep 01 2005, 5:35 am Post subject:

I�m kinda freaking out with this story as I know what a HUGE Rav the Baba Sali was and if he said something it was true.
So basically we have �one minute� until mashiach comes!!!!

Gold Member Joined: May 18 2005 Posts: 1254

Does that watch move an hour backwards when they change the clock? Question

Posted: Thu, Sep 01 2005, 9:47 am Post subject: re: Baba Sali and the Watch

how do we know, maybe baba sali meant 12pm, and now it's only 'referring' to 12 am?????

Posted: Thu, Sep 01 2005, 10:07 am Post subject: re: Baba Sali and the Watch

According to the Mishpacha interview with R' shmuel Eliyahu, Baba Sali appeared to his son in a dream and told him to tell R' Eliyahu (Mordechai) that when the hands reach 12:00, etc. I'm sure he would have specified if he meant another full revolution of the hour hand.

Posted: Thu, Sep 01 2005, 11:22 am Post subject: re: Baba Sali and the Watch

yeah, but if twelve passes..... that's probably what they'll say.

Posted: Thu, Sep 01 2005, 12:52 pm Post subject: re: Baba Sali and the Watch

My thoughts exactly, queen!

Senior Member Joined: Jan 09 2005 Posts: 198

Have a little faith! Smile

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Posted: Thu, Sep 01 2005, 6:33 pm Post subject: re: Baba Sali and the Watch

I don't find it a case of having faith, but rather, things like this come up from time to time. While I was in elementary- somewhere a pora aduma was found. well, shortly after they found out it was disqualified..... until the right time (will we have prior warning?) all things (this included) are all speculations..... and NOT promises.

Posted: Sat, Sep 03 2005, 7:38 pm Post subject:

Well if it isn't then we can say it was a nice story. but we don't have to go by the watch, non of us have it. For all we know it can go back and fwds...imagine if he by mistake changes it when the clocks go fwd thinking it's his normal watch.
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Gold Member Joined: Mar 10 2005 Posts: 1063

Posted: Sun, Sep 04 2005, 5:27 pm Post subject: re: Baba Sali and the Watch

yes but if the hands hit 12....sounds a bit like the story of cinderella no??

Gold Member Joined: Mar 10 2005 Posts: 1063

Platinum Member Joined: Sep 20 2004 Posts: 17151

4 Shevat is Baba Sali's yartzeit.

Gold Member Joined: Mar 10 2005 Posts: 1063

Posted: Sun, Mar 05 2006, 1:51 am Post subject: Re: re: Baba Sali and the Watch