R. Isaac Lofez (17-18th cent.) rabbinical scholar and rabbi of Aleppo. Little is known of his life, he wrote Cur Mizaref ha-Emunot ve-Ma’areh ha-Emet (Metz 1847), an important anti-Christian polemic. The title page of the work is dated “Wisdom cries aloud in the street חכמת בחוץ תראה (607=1747)” (Proverbs 1:20). It informs that it is sublime and awesome polemical queries “from the lions’ dens, from the mountains of the leopard” (Song of Songs 4:8), which the Nozrim bring against our Torah, the twenty-four books, and also the sayings of Hazal. Appropriate, forceful responses will be found to each of their charges, entirely based upon the works of the commentators. R. Lofez has written this work for the public good and in order to know how to respond to appikorsim. Cur Mizaref was brought to press by R. Isaac Altaras, head of the Jewish community in Marsulla. There are three introductions; the first about its publication, informing that it was written by R. Lofez 150 years ago and has been in the possession of the Altaras family; the second from the author, which was taken word for word from the introduction to R. Reuben ben Jacob’s Milhamot ha-Shem, written in 1170. Much of the text is also indebted to that work, which has never been published in its entirety. Cur Mizaref is divided into eleven sha’arim, which are further subdivided into chapters, of which there are sixty-six. The text is printed in two columns in rabbinic type. The volume concludes with an essay on the true faith (101a-03b) and an index of the contents. As an example of the contents, the last Sha’ar is devoted to a dispute in the late 17th century with an apostate, originally named Jonah, by the name of Giovanni Batista Giona Galileo, who R. Lofez refers to as Maestro Pedro. R. Lofez is well versed in polemical literature and this is an important contribution to the field.

R. Jacob Toledano (MaHaRIT; 1697–1771), was a prominent rabbi in Meknes and a disciple of R. Moses Berdugo, holding rabbinical office for 50 years. He was the most important halakhic authority in the Maghreb during the second half of the 18th century and played a central role in the leadership of his community. A crisis occurred in the relations between himself and his community in 1764, but the difficulties were settled and he continued to serve the community. He wrote a commentary on the Torah, a commentary to Rashi on the Torah, a work on the Shulhan Arukh, novellae on the Talmud, legal decisions, some of which were published in the works of Moroccan hakhamim, and sermons.

R. Solomon Tapiro (18th cent.) was a rabbinical scholar in Meknes. Little is known of his life, his name however appears on many documents with the leading rabbis of the generation. He signs documents with R. Jacob ibn Zur, R. Jacob Berdugo, R. Solomon Toledano, R. Moses Toledano, R. Mordecai Albez, R. Judah Berdugo, and many others.

Three additional rabbis.