A Story of Hashgachah Pratis Behind the Portuguese Abarbanel

A chain of Hashgachah Pratis brought Rabbi Shmuel Osher Begun’s project to publish Abarbanel’s Torah commentary in Portuguese to completion.

By COLlive reporter

A years-long project to publish Don Isaac Abarbanel’s commentary on the Torah in Portuguese has been completed, following a chain of unexpected connections that organizers describe as remarkable Hashgachah Pratis.

The four-volume set, initiated by Rabbi Shmuel Osher Begun and completed after his passing by his brother, Rabbi Moti Begun, arrived on the first yahrtzeit of Rabbi Shmuel Osher.

The project began several years ago during a conversation in New York.

Rabbi Shmuel Osher Begun was discussing the chronology of Jewish generations with a friend when the name of Abarbanel came up, and he noted that Abarbanel’s understanding of the sequence of generations differs from the chronology presented by the Rambam.

The friend, who was already familiar with and appreciative of Abarbanel’s writings, said he would be willing to support a Portuguese translation of Abarbanel’s commentary if someone could undertake the project.

Soon afterward, Rabbi Begun learned that Rabbi Israel Lazar had already translated Abarbanel’s commentaries into English.

In an unusual coincidence, Rabbi Lazar lived on the same street in New York, nearly directly across from where Rabbi Begun was staying.

Rabbi Begun went to his home, where another connection quickly emerged: Rabbi Lazar had studied with Rabbi Begun’s father at the yeshivah in Montreal in the 1940s.

Rabbi Lazar agreed to provide the files of his English translation, which were then given to an experienced translator of Jewish works into Portuguese.

What had begun as a conversation quickly developed into a formal publishing project.

The first volume was published, followed by two additional volumes.

Before the fourth and final volume could be completed, however, Rabbi Shmuel Osher Begun became ill and passed away.

His brother, Rabbi Moti Begun, then took responsibility for seeing the project through.

By that point, much of the work on the final volume had already been completed. The translation, editing and graphic preparation were finished, with printing remaining as the final major step.

During a board meeting about the project, one participant suggested reaching out to the Abravanel family.

That suggestion led to yet another connection.

Rabbi Moti Begun’s wife gives a monthly shiur in the home of a supporter, and one of Senor Abravanel’s daughters had previously attended the class.

Rabbi Begun contacted the supporter, who helped arrange an introduction to the family.

The family expressed interest in supporting the publication. The daughter said she first wanted to consult with her mother and sisters before making a final decision.

Their answer was yes.

The timing was significant: the family agreed to support the printing of the fourth and final volume on the yahrtzeit of their father, Senor Abravanel.

Senor Abravanel, better known as Silvio Santos, was a direct descendant of Don Isaac Abarbanel and one of Brazil’s best-known Jewish public figures. He had spoken publicly with pride about his distinguished ancestor and his family history.

The result was a striking convergence: descendants of Abarbanel helping support the publication of his Torah commentary in Portuguese, in Brazil, more than 500 years after his lifetime.

The final volume was then brought to print, completing the set begun by Rabbi Shmuel Osher Begun and finished under the direction of his brother.

The completed four-volume collection arrived on Rabbi Shmuel Osher’s first yahrtzeit.

For those involved in the project, the timing added another layer to a series of events that had already included an unexpected conversation, a translator living across the street, a decades-old family connection, and an introduction to Abarbanel’s descendants.

What began as a chance discussion in New York ultimately became a complete Portuguese edition of Abarbanel’s Torah commentary, making the work available to Portuguese-speaking readers and bringing a project begun by Rabbi Shmuel Osher Begun to completion on his first yahrtzeit.

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