Rabbi Chaim Ben Attar was a Talmudist and kabbalist. He was one of the most prominent rabbis of Morocco.

He was born to a well respected and wealthy family. Even as a child he developed extreme talents and it was evident that  he was meant to be a leader.

He is described as a child who liked to spend time alone in the fields and at study.

When he grew up, he married his cousin Patzina. Untill today, it is told of her holiness, and good deeds.

In 1733 he decided to leave his native country and settle in the Land of Israel, then under the Ottoman Empire. En route the rich members of the Jewish community, who established a yeshiva for him, detained him in Livorno. Many of his pupils later became prominent and furnished him with funds to print his Ohr ha-Chaim.

He was received with great honor wherever he traveled. This was due to his extensive knowledge, keen intellect and extraordinary piety. In the middle of 1742 he arrived to  Jerusalem, where he presided at the Beit Midrash (study room) Knesset-Yisrael.

One of his disciples there was Rabbi Chaim Joseph David Azulai, who seemed to have been completely overwhelmed by the excellence of his master. He wrote of him: "Attar's heart pulsated with Talmud; he uprooted mountains like a restless torrent; his holiness was that of an angel of the Lord, ... having severed all connection with the affairs of this world."

He published many famous items:

• Hefetz Hashem (God's Desire), Amsterdam, 1732—dissertations on the four Talmudic treatises Berakot, Shabbat, Horayot, and Chullin.
• Ohr ha-Chaim (The Light of Life), Venice, 1742—a commentary on the Pentateuch after the four methods known collectively as Pardes; it was reprinted several times. His renown is based chiefly on this work, which became popular also with the Hasidim.
• Peri Toar (Beautiful Fruit), novellae on the Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah, dealing especially with Hiskiah de Silva's commentary Peri Hadash, Amsterdam, 1742; Vienna and Lemberg, 1810.
• Rishon le-Zion, Constantinople, 1750—consisting of novellae to several Talmudic treatises, on certain portions of the Shulchan Aruch, on the terminology of Maimonides, on the five Megillot, on the Prophets and on Proverbs.

He died at the age of 47 and is buried on the Mount of Olives, Jerusalem.

A story is told about a miracle that occurred.

In the city where Rabbi Chaim ben Attar resided, the ruler was in favor of the Jewish people. The ruler was invited to a party in a far city. The ruler had an advisor who hated the Jews. As soon as the ruler left, the advisor stated a big commotion against the Jewish people.

Rabbi Chaim ben Attar, was also invited to the party, and brought with him, as a gesture, a simple mirror, as a present to the ruler.

When the ruler saw the simple mirror he was insulted and angrily asked for the reason of the insulting present.

Rabbi Chaim ben Attar explained that this is not a simple mirror, and that with this mirror he will be able to see anything around his kingdom.

The ruler asked, with disbelief , if he could see his castle, and the rabbi said yes.

The ruler looked at the mirror and became pale. He saw his advisor in the women section of the castle, doing as he wishes to the ruler’s wives.

The ruler got very angry and asked Rabbi Chaim ben Attar what he should do. Rabbi Chaim ben Attar told him that he should take his gun and shoot toward the mirror. The ruler did what he said and headed towards his castle.

When he arrived, he saw that the advisor was shot.

Since then the ruler lowered the Jews’ taxes and relieved them from many hardships.