R. Raphael Meldola, the Author, was a British rabbi and son of Moses Hezekiah Meldola (1725–1791). Raphael was born in Leghorn, received rabbinical ordination there from R. H. J. D. Azulai (Chidah) in 1796, became a dayyan in 1803, and in 1804/05 was appointed haham of the Sephardi community in London—an office vacant since the death of Moses Cohen d'Azevedo in 1784. Energetic and capable, he helped to reform the educational institutions of his community in the face of missionary activities and cooperated cordially with Solomon Hirschel, the Ashkenazi chief rabbi. On the other hand, his belligerent nature was responsible for periodic friction with the members of his community. Notwithstanding his imperfect knowledge of English he corresponded extensively with Christian scholars. Before leaving Leghorn, he had published there Huppat Hatanim (1797), a handbook on the laws of marital life. He also published sermons and memorial poems: part of his catechism Derekh Emunah (The Way of Faith) appeared with his English translation after his death (1848).

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