Rabbi said WHAT?!?! Unexpected and Amazing Teachings from Rabbi Yosef Messas

Mayyim Hayyim (Rabbi Yosef Messas, 1892-1974, Morocco)

Answer: We know from Rabbi Joseph Caro (author of the Shuklkhan Arukh) in Yoreh Deah 119:6, that one who violates Shabbat in public is not believable like the others who are forbidden to be witnesses, and he agrees with all of the sages...

...and what also in this time in which the generation is broken and it is impossible to make the laws of the religion hold upon them, and if we come to be stringent and to think [strongly about avoiding] violation of Shabbat in public, even though it is a prohibition of the Torah that does not have a death penalty, [we are liable to] lose the entire Torah in total. If this is the case, we will find many many losses like this in this orphaned generation, and it will not cease to be...

...First, because they are in sin, violation of Shabbat in public is done in many cities in Algeria as if it was allowed for many of the people, and not a single person can stop this. [The reason no single person can stop this is] from the many freedoms given by the king to each person, to do what is right in their eyes and the eyes of their religion. And only one thing remains which has a great need among the heads of the communities to protest, and it is the butcher who sells non-kosher meat...

Nachalat Avot (Rabbi Yosef Messas, 1892-1974, Morocco)

And I also saw in a manuscript, that in the city of Algeria in the time of the Gaon Rabbi Ayash (18th Century), there was a young woman who was the oldest daughter of a rich man. She was very wise in Torah and diligently labored in Torah study day and night. Many respected men courted her. But she did not want to be taken [as a wife] to anyone, from the reason given by [the great talmudic rabbi] Ben Azzai: Her soul desires Torah.

And her father went to the great Gaon [to talk about this matter]. And [the Gaon] sent for her and spoke to her many pleasant things. But she did not want to hear from him, from the [argument a fortiori] of Ben Azzai: He was a man, who was commanded to "be fruitful and multiply" [i.e. take a wife in order to have kids], but despite this [mitzvah] he said "but what can I do? My heart desires Torah." All the more so [should this be the case for the young woman] since she is not commanded to be fruitful and multiply.

And the Gaon said to her: "Is it not that Torah study [for women] is not commanded and there is no reward!" And she laughed and said to him, "Have you just forgotten the words of Maimonides, [who said] "that also a woman receives reward for studying" [Torah] (Yoreh Deah 146:6). Surely though -- may your words come to pass, that there is no reward for Torah in this world or the next. Because I don't busy myself with Torah for the purpose of reaping a reward, rather simply for the sake of love of Torah.

And the Gaon felt these words, and exempted her [from needing to marry] with peace and many blessings. He said to her father: Do as she wants because by her merit will the people of the city be protected.

Once the Gaon saw in a dream, and here were people coming to kill and rule. And the daughter went out by herself with weapon drawn to face them, and slaughtered them all, and it was a great rescue/salvation. And the Gaon was shaken up by the dream, and sat and fasted. And after three days on Friday night attackers from Spain came by way of the Sea. And God in God's kindness cast a great wind upon the sea, and all of their boats broke and drowned in the great sea. And God saved the entire city from the "Egyptians" [literally, "dangers"]. And the Gaon knew the secret of the dream: That it was the merit of this young woman who saved the people of the city.

And this woman remained single, and desired Torah. [She stayed in the city] until she was 60 years old. And she immigrated to [Israel] and labored with Torah [there], until the day of her death, returning to heaven, at 100 years old.