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Only edition of this work of selections from the Zohar by R. Hayyim Palache (Palaggi, (Habif; 1788–1869). The volume was printed without a title page and the publication date and identify of the printer was determined by comparison with comparable works from Izmir. At the end of the book are simanim de-hayya.
R. Hayyim Palache (Palaggi, Habif; 1788–1869), rabbi and hakham bashi. Born in Izmir (Smyrna), Palache, a member of the distinguished Palache family, was the grandson on his mother's side of Joseph Raphael Hazzan (author of Hikrei Lev) and was a disciple of Joseph Gatenio (author of Beit Yizhak). He became av bet din in 1837. In 1847 he was appointed as rav sheni ("second rabbi") with the title dayyan, authorized to render judgment alone, and later was awarded the rabbinical title marbiz Torah (see Abraham Palache, Helkam ba-Hayyim, 1874). His position as marbiz Torah is attested by Hayyim Palache himself: 'I, the marbiz Torah of this place, the town of Izmir … and its environs' (Male Hayyim: Ha-Takkanot, 42, 74), i.e., the neighboring towns of Izmir as well, such as Tiriya, Manissa, and Bergama. In 1855 he was appointed as rav kolel ("chief of the rabbis"; Hayyim ba-Yad (1873), nos. 63, 74, 75). In 1865, at the age of 77, he was appointed hakham bashi of Izmir. Because of Palache's advanced age, some of his colleagues took charge of the community and administered it according to their will. At the end of November 1865 the Jews of Izmir elected an administrative committee composed of a president and nine members. At their first meeting the members of the committee invited Palache to appear alone, without his advisers and followers, and compelled him to sign a declaration stating that he would not sign any document without prior authorization by the majority of the members of the committee. Palache signed, but the administrative committee did not function for a long time. At that time the administrators of the community bought the monopoly of the gabella (tax) for the sale of wine, alcohol, and salt for the ridiculously low price of 10,000–12,000 francs. When the people complained, they decided to pay 44,000 francs for the monopoly, but when the community demanded an accounting of its financial situation, the officials refused to comply. In order to put an end to this situation, Palache repealed this tax. The entire group of Gabelleros, as well as those interested in leasing monopolies, swore to remove the aged rabbi. Following the argument which broke out in the community, the government ordered the hakham bashi of Istanbul (Constantinople), Yakir Gueron, to send someone to Izmir to restore order. In December 1866 R. Samuel Danon, secretary of Gueron, was sent. He convinced Gueron that the only solution to these complicated intrigues was to remove Palache and that he himself should be appointed in the former's place. Gueron responded affirmatively to his secretary's report, which was signed by only 60 of Izmir's inhabitants. He requested that the government remove Palache, and the vizier's order of removal was sent to Izmir. Most of the Jewish inhabitants of Izmir, however, so strongly opposed the order that the pasha of Izmir had to consult a higher authority. According to a new order, the pasha was supposed to delay the execution of the vizier's first order, to remove Palache only temporarily, and to appoint Danon in his place. This began a series of requests – for and against Palache – to Gueron. The supporters of Palache eventually succeeded in October 1867 in having him returned to his rabbinic post and recognized as the chief rabbi of the Izmir community. Palache did not exploit his victory for revenge, and he dealt mercifully with the Gabelleros, who asked for his pardon. One of the conditions of his reelection was that immediately on assuming the post, administrative procedures would be instituted (Nizamnamé du Hakham-Hané). However, Palache's death prevented his fulfilling his promise.
Palache was a prolific writer. Many of his manuscripts were burned and a great number were not published, but 26 works were printed, among them: Darkhei Hayyim (Izmir, 1821), on Pirkei Avot; Lev Hayyim (vol. 1, Salonika, 1823; vols. 2–3, Izmir, 1874–90), responsa, interpretations, and comments on the Shulhan Arukh; Nishmat Kol Hai (2 vols., Salonika, 1832–37), responsa; Zedakah Hayyim (Izmir, 1838); Hikekei Lev (2 vols., Salonika, 1840–53), homilies and eulogies; Nefesh Hayyim (1842); Torah ve-Hayyim (1846); Kaf ha-Hayyim (1859); Mo'ed le-Khol Hai (1861); Hayyim ve-Shalom (2 vols., 1857–72); Sefer Hayyim (1863); and Ginzei Hayyim (1871).
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