Physical Description

Detail Description

Super-commentary to the commentary of Rashi on Torah by the rabbinical authority and perhaps greatest of the rabbis of the Ottoman Empire of his time. R. Mizrahi was of Romaniot origin (the original Turkish Jews as distinct from the Spanish exiles) and was born and educated in Constantinople. Among his teachers he mentions R. Elijah ha-Levi in rabbinic studies and Mordecai Comitiano in general studies. Until the death of R. Moses Capsali, R. Mizrahi devoted himself to study and public instruction. As early as 1475 he is mentioned as heading a keneset (probably a school in addition to a synagogue) and as having students. After the death of R. Capsali in 1498 R. Mizrahi became the foremost rabbinical authority in Constantinople and in fact throughout the whole Ottoman Empire. From far and near, problems of halakhah and procedure were addressed to him. There is reason to believe that he filled the position of head of the rabbis of Constantinople (though he did not have the title of hakham bashi, appointed by the sultan, since that office did not exist at that period). Nevertheless, it would seem that his authority derived not from any official position, but from the recognition of his personality and strength. He was considered both by his contemporaries and later generations as the greatest posek of his time in Turkey. He was firm and unbending in his decisions, and even the great rabbis among the Spanish exiles accepted his authority.

 

References:

CD-NLI 0147449; EJ