IDF Rabbi Ben Zion Aba Shaul Honored His Wife with Deep Respect and Devotion
Ahead of the 28th yahrzeit of Rabbi Ben Zion Aba Shaul, a revered head of a yeshiva, the Kikar HaShabbat magazine shares intimate stories from the book 'Gedolah Shimushah' by Rabbi Mordechai Hasidim, highlighting the profound respect and care Rabbi Aba Shaul showed his wife, Rebbetzin Hadassah. Beyond his scholarly brilliance, Rabbi Aba Shaul's home life exemplified extraordinary sensitivity and reverence for his wife, setting a model for honoring women within the household.
Rabbi Hasidim recounts how Rabbi Aba Shaul meticulously fulfilled his wife's wishes, such as keeping his beard trimmed short because she preferred it, and always ensuring her comfort and dignity. The Rebbetzin was deeply devoted to the Rabbi’s wellbeing, overseeing his health and daily needs to enable him to study peacefully. For example, she insisted he keep his sweater on until the holiday of Shavuot to protect him from sudden weather changes.
The Rabbi also demonstrated humility and respect by performing household chores like mopping, teaching that honoring one’s wife is paramount and that a wife embodies the holy presence (Shechinah). His friend Aharon Shachar, known for promoting peace in marriages, admired the couple’s mutual respect and often spoke about the importance of honoring women.
Rabbi Aba Shaul insisted that his driver always bring his wife along to events, emphasizing that a husband must prioritize his wife’s presence and dignity. He delighted in making his wife happy, praising her new dresses enthusiastically and going on walks with her, often walking on the street while she walked on the sidewalk to show her honor.
Even when undergoing physical therapy, Rabbi Aba Shaul did so solely to please his wife. He also demonstrated his devotion by generously giving her money far beyond her request and by carefully attending to details like buttoning his collar at her insistence. On outings, he prioritized her wishes without question, whether visiting the beach or a mall.
One touching episode describes how during a sudden sprinkler activation in a park, Rabbi Aba Shaul insisted that his wife be protected from getting wet due to a foot injury, showing his selfless care. These anecdotes reveal a man whose greatness in Torah was matched by his profound respect and love for his wife, underscoring that true greatness begins within the home.
