Rabbi Meir Michel Abehsera, renowned expert on macrobiotics and known as “the Rebbe’s whistler” passed away.
A descendant of the famed Abuchatzeira sages and kabbalists of Morocco, Rabbi Abehsera was renowned internationally for his books on natural medicine and macrobiotics.
Born in Morocco, at the young age of ten Rabbi Meir Michel Abehsera moved with his family to France. There he became a successful civil engineer, but his heart’s passion was in writing and literature.
While in France, Rabbi Abehsera became very involved in a newly emerging field of healing through macrobiotics. Following that path, in the early sixties the ambitious writer moved to New York and opened the first macrobiotic restaurant in New York City. During the next decade Abehsera published eight books and became a sought-after lecturer nationwide.
In the early 1970s he first visited 770, and he soon became known as “The Rebbe’s Whistler,” since the Rebbe would frequently call on him to whistle during the singing at farbrengens.
Over the years, Shluchim around the world invited Rabbi Abehsera to speak, where audiences enjoyed his intellect, folksiness and whimsy, as well as his deep Sephardic roots.
In the mid-1990s, while living in Los Angeles with his wife and seven children, he began writing a personal meditation on his life and ideas inspired by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, which became a book called “The Possible Man.”
In recent years he was living in Jerusalem.
The Levaya will take place today in Jerusalem.
Baruch Dayan Haemes.
Michel Meir Nissim,my holy (big) “brother”,lover of life,lover of humanity,you transmuted sooo much into light,gifted and inspired myriads through your humor ,dance wisdom,humility and care,a life truly well lived,your light shines on…BDE .המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים הוא היה צדיק
Only our Rebbe could elevate whistling not just to an art form, but to a spiritual portal into the celestial spheres!
Wishing the Abehsera family comfort at this painful time. We will miss R Meir very, very much!
Maintes fois j ai eue l occasion j ai eu l occasion de le voir bien sur pendant lles itvaadout quand le Rabbi lui disait de siffler ou encore le voir danser c etait epoustouflant et puis aussi les melaves malka avec les francais et conseils macrobiologique
HAMAKOM yenahem otrem be tor shaerei tsion yeroushalaim esther famille lipsker zaets
Two things I learned from Reb Meir who took these two concepts to a new level:
1) The meaning of Bittul to a Rebbe
2) the meaning of Shtus D’kedusha
Both are formulas for wholesome life.
Thank you Meir for teaching them to me in your warm and wonderful manner.
J’ai rencontré M. Abehsera par l’intermédiaire de son fils Israël, alors que j’étudiais à la Mayanot Yeshiva à Yeroushalaïm, et leur maison m’a toujours inspirée un sentiment de joie profonde de vivre son judaisme et son attachement au Rabbi, je ne pourrais jamais oublié ces chants de la table de shabbath et le sourire de cet homme qui me semble indissociable du souvenir que j’ai de son visage. Même depuis mon retour à Paris, de penser à cette famille portée par cet homme suffisait à me réchauffer l’âme.
HaMaqom Yena’hem Ethkhem betokh shear avelei Tsion vYroushalaïm.
Gabriel Mouly.
‘A firebrand plucked from the fire’
My neshama was pulled from the fire by Meir, Esther, Judy, Dina and David in Binghamton NY.
Honoring a parent – a child is always grateful and needs to respect beyond all other relationships.
It is true birth that occurred through Meir and Esther for thousands upon thousands of children of theirs.
We have no words for the sorrow.
May Hashem comfort your family and all of us among the mourners of Tzion and Yerushalayim
By hashgocha protis one of my sons recently brought home the book The Possible Man. I read it out of curiosity and it is a fascinating rendition of a very deep soul seeing the world through holy eyes and turning upside down our shallow perceptions of life. May his beautiful soul be rewarded for the thousands of people he influenced for the good.
In The house of Rabbi Abehsera on Rashbag 5 katamon Jerusalem
In the home of David Abehsera his son on 6441 Moore dr Los Angeles
Bless his soul Amen!!!!!
Blessings good news
A real loss.
He was a real chosid and Yid.
Baruch Dayan Ha’Emes. Over 40 years ago I was good friends with Meir. I and some others ate by his house by the Passover Seder. No kitniyus, Interesting Sephardic customs. His warm smile was quite contagious. He will be sorely missed.
Baruch Dayan Ha’Emet on the Petira of Michel Abehsera, a great nutrition professional, teacher and personality. I was his client, interviewer, journalist recorder, friend and admirer. May the great things he did for his friends and patients be a segura,a blessing, for all of us and may his teachings have implanted in us some common sense aboutthe right foods, supplements and lifestyle. His was the way of private and communal teachings, inspiring us toward greater health to upgrade our beings toward increased energy and vitality so that we can live a more G-dly life and make our loved ones happier,… Read more »
He was one of the people who helped me learn to lead the davening at Mayanot in Jerusalem. I will miss him.
Each mitzvah that a person does in this world creates a lamp with which he can explore the treasure house of the King after he dies. This is the ultimate bliss of the life to come.
Likutey Moharan I, 275
Our deepest condolences the rebbe and meir go hand in hand a person who loved life and people the living example of simcha poretz geder our prayers are with the whole family baruch dayan emet
Growing up with the Abhesera’s I recall a story of how one Friday night when Meir would have so many people over at their home in Flatbush a Jew came over with his motorcycle and a siddur. Meir, with his tremendous warmth, welcomed the Jew and said ” Wow! you brought a Siddur!!” This Jew became a baal teshuva thanks to Meir’s positive warm attitude!!
Always smiling, always optimist, looking only the “good” at the other person. Atarah Guez
Reb Meir was a very gifted man, but also very humble. He was a Chassid par excellence, poet, dancer, speaker and mentor, but most of all he loved all Jews. His home was always open and he had time for everybody, day or night. He told me once he was in yechidus and he and the Rebbe were sitting in total silence, communicating via telepathy. After about 5 minutes, the Rebbe told him ‘This is not the way chassidim communicate” and the yechidus resumed verbally. On another occasion, Reb Meir recounted to me how he was whistling for the Rebbe… Read more »
what a beautiful person!
ת.נ.צ.ב.ה.
It is with great shock and consternation that we learned of Michel’s passing, our dearest childhood friend from Morocco. We remember him most for his love of life and jovial lightheartedness. We shared similar passions for French literature and social dancing. In fact, on numerous occasions he was my ballroom partner in Tango and Pasodoble. Childhood friend to my husband Maurice Rimok, where both went to school – Le Collège des Orangers in Rabat and in Strasbourg, France. He will be GREATLY missed by both of us. We extend our sincere condolences to Armand, his brother, his wife Esther that… Read more »
There will be 3 shiva location for Meir Nissim Abehsera. In Jerusalem at his daughter Sarah’s house. In Los Angeles at his son David’s house. And in New York at his nephews Josh’s house in Lawrence. For addresses please email me at [email protected]. Everyone should open in their homes and help every yid in need in his honor. Shabbat shalom!
Words cannot describe the person he was. Heaven gained an angel is all i have to say.
Please post shiva info
Was it in Shavuos? I wouldn’t be surprised that such a Holy soul would be released on such a holy day.
May Hashem comfort the Abesara family. This is such a great loss. He was such a beaming light. His influence will live on.
Moshiach now.
Baruch dayan ho’emes. Reb Meir was a deeply spiritual one-of-a-kind, charismatic individual whose unique spiritual and physical contributions to this world will be felt by many for a long, long time to come.
There were several families who Rabbi Yankel Kranz o’h encouraged to spend a Shabbos with Rabbi Meir in his home ……..and they came back ‘changed people’…..and became baalei teshuva ad hayom hazeh.
Baruch Dayan Haemes…..
He was a great man!
כל הזמן היה בשמחה וחיוך אפשר לילמוד ממנו עבודת השמחה…עד מתי
I am living in crown heights and raising a family thanks to Rabbi Abehsera. Dear Esther and the whole family may you be comforted btoch avlei tzion vyerushalayim.
Dear Esther and kids,
I will always remember our beautiful Yomim Tovim that you spend with us . They were so full of joy. Meir loved the Rebbe with his heart and soul and became a true Chosid. I remember all the laughter and great bonding that we all had.
Oh! What a loss. Children, don’t ever forget who your father was. He left you with many lessons. He was a humble man after all. I will miss him greatly along with you.
Rabbi Meir was a great friend and one of the most inspirational people in my life. His memory should be a blessing for all of us. Daniel Schonbuch
We will miss you dear friend. You touched and danced with the inexplicable divine with grace. Your connection with all that is Holy and good flowed through you with chesed and giving. You taught us what it means to love the Rebbe in particular and all Tzaddikim. May only goodness and kindness accompany on your journey forever
He was so special. He was so inspiring just to talk /watch/be with
Someone once asked him why he was zoicheh to such a kiruv from the Rebbe, and after some thought, answered “because I never speak ill of another Lubavitcher!” May his memory be for a blessing!
He was mekarev my wife and thousands of others to Yiddishkeit and the Rebbe. He will be sorely missed.
Baruch dayan emes.
We are so shocked. It was such a pleasure to know such a special person who gave so much naches to the Rebbe. We remember the Shabbos lunch at our house and the beautiful stories. We are sure he will be whistling at the Rebbe’s Fargrengen in Shomayim and break through the last impediment to the Geula!
I was privileged to spend several Shabbosim with Reb Meir, as well as several long car rides. He was truly one of the most special people I’ve ever met, and our conversations will stay with me forever. He was a great-nephew of the Baba Sali, and called himself the Rebbe’s court jester. I can’t imagine the kind of welcoming party he’s getting right now.
Oy! Very sorry to hear. Painful. ‘Ad Mausai!’