Day of Hilula
Ezra the Scribe
ט׳ בטבת
Jerusalem
In Jewish tradition, the day of a tzadik's passing — the 'Hilula' — is not a day of mourning, but a day of spiritual elevation and awakening. According to the teachings of Kabbalah, on this day the soul of the tzadik ascends to a higher realm, and their light and merits shine upon the world. Many Jews mark the day through Torah study, reciting Tehillim, lighting a memorial candle, and good deeds for the elevation of the soul — to connect with the tzadik's path and qualities.
His Life and Legacy
Ezra the Scribe was a priest and a skilled scribe in the Torah of Moses. He ascended from Babylon to Jerusalem, restored the people to Torah observance, enacted important ordinances, and led the Men of the Great Assembly.
"For Ezra had prepared his heart to study the Torah of the Lord, to fulfill it, and to teach statute and law in Israel."