A Short Tribute
Hakham Yaakov Hacohen (Maslaton) Tarab, son of Yoseph, was born in Damascus, Syria. His wife was named Rosa.

Hakham Yaakov Hacohen Tarab became renowned for his devotion to Torah, and was proficient in its explicit and concealed aspects as well as in Halakhic and Aggadic literature. His custom was to rise at midnight to study in Hakham Haim Vital's study house.

Hakham Yaakov Hacohen Tarab officiated as Av Bet Din in Beirut and was known for the sermons he gave on Sabbaths and Festivals.

Hakham Yaakov Hacohen Tarab passed away 22 Tevet, 5682 (1923). He authored the following books: Dvar Tov, Beit Ya'akov – sermons on diverse topics and, following his decease, his descendants published additional manuscripts of his in She'erit Yaakov – sermons and innovations on Maimonides.

A few quotes from the Rabbi on 'Traditions of the Fathers' in which he points out hidden meanings in A Song for the Sabbath Day that embellish honoring one's father and mother
"Above the thunder of mighty waters, more majestic than the breakers of the sea is the LORD, majestic on high. Your decrees are indeed enduring; holiness befits Your house, O LORD, for all times." 'Above the thunder of mighty waters' – was meant to say: 'from the voice of Torah'. A notarikon [acronym] for 'from the voice' –from the voice of Torah, that is likened to waters, as has been said: Ho, all who are thirsty, come for water'– can be found in 'more majestic than the breakers of the sea is the LORD, majestic on high' that spells out the [Hebrew] initials of 'my mother and my father', meaning that one honors one's father and mother to merit the World to Come. When is it most fitting and becoming to do so? On the Sabbath day, entitled 'sacredness', and by so doing one also gains the merit of long life.
Dvar Tov, p. 163, Jerusalem, 1914
A few quotes from the Rabbi on 'Tzedakah and Healing' in which he teaches not to let your inclination chill you on your way to doing charity, and smite the hindmost of thee
…"how, undeterred by fear of God, he met you on the way, when you were famished and weary, and cut down the stragglers in your rear". 'How he met you by the way' hints at the commandment of charity, since it is known that the word 'way' is a term for charity, as Scripture says, ' that they may keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice'. Thus it is always; the more important a commandment, the more does the evil inclination seduce a person to avoid it…
This is what 'how he met you on the way' means – that it chills you on the way, the way referring to the commandment of charity ['met' and 'chill' in Hebrew share the same letters]; he cut down the stragglers in your rear' – 'stragglers' is to be read as those who lag behind in this commandment will be pursued. The entire claim of the evil inclination rests on saying that 'you were famished and weary' – you were made faint and weary for scant earnings, and others will come and to take them with ease.
Dvar Tov, p. 34b, Jerusalem, 1914
A few quotes from the Rabbi on 'Torah Study' in which he teaches to submit body and soul in hiring a tutor for children of paupers at one's own expense.
They said "Be careful with [regard to the education of] the sons of paupers as from them Torah will issue forth" – happy are they and happy is their lot. On this basis, every wise person will act judiciously and devote his body and soul to fulfill this commandment and not spare his wealth, and hire a tutor from his own pocket and wealth to teach children of paupers whose fathers lack their own [wealth] and orphaned sons who have no father to plead on their behalf.
Dvar Tov, p. 34b, Jerusalem, 1914
A few quotes from the Rabbi on 'Love of Israel' in which he teaches that the half shekel is so that the whole person envision that he is comparable to half a person.
"Reish Lakish said: It was manifestly known to the Master of the Universe, that in the future Haman was going to weigh out shekels against the People of Israel." We learn a moral reprimand from his words, that announce and inform us that in the People of Israel's moments of grace, when they were called 'sons of God' and 'God's Tribe', we were connected and united as one person, with no distancing between our hearts.
The whole person should not imagine that he lacks nothing, whether because of his wisdom or his wealth, and that he requires no assistance from others, for he is mistaken in such thinking - since he is but half a person and is incomplete without his brethren, the other half.
For this reason, our teachers of blessed memory carry the intention of a blessing with this commandment. It is a loud and clear proclamation, as is written: "On the first of the month of Adar a proclamation is made about the shekalim" – meaning that each one is to give half a shekel, symbolizing unity; in so doing each person will give from the heart, and be inspired to be at peace with his brethren. This is what Reish Lakish meant when he said: "It was revealed and known to the Master of the Universe, that in the future Haman was going to weigh out shekels against the People of Israel", meaning, to inform on them about unity, for they are not in unity.
She'erit Yaakov, Sermons, p.35a, Rabbi Haim Zuckerman Press, Jerusalem, 1932
A few quotes from the Rabbi on 'Redemption of Israel' in which he hints at the permutation of the letters Torah, Sabbath and unity in redemption
"When you take a census of the Sons of Israel" –Moses said to the Holy One, blessed be he: "How will You raise the value of Israel, by redeeming them from amongst the nations, and restoring original splendor? He said to him: "When you take" – the initials of which spell Torah, Sabbath, unity. By dealing in Torah, observing the Sabbath, and through unity, the three mentioned arrangements of letters will unite and everything will be mended, and Israel will speedily be redeemed in our days, amen.
Dvar Tov, p 30b, Jerusalem, 1914
A few quotes from the Rabbi on 'Customs of Israel' in which he teaches that sounding the charity done on the day of Purim is called holy.
"And it shall be upon Aaron while officiating, so that the sound of it is heard when he comes into the sanctuary before the LORD and when he goes out – that he may not die." The word 'sound' indicates charity, which is the gematria [numerological] equivalent of 'monies'. They also said: 'Three sounds gladden, the sound of Torah, the sound of money, and the sound of rains' – charity given on Purim, in particular, as it reveals Mordecai's inspiration … This is what I indicated in: 'And it shall be' – that spell the letters of the Name [in Hebrew]. When will the Name of God be completed, Israel redeemed and Aaron called upon to officiate? At the time that 'the sound of it is heard' – hinting at the sound of Torah and the sound of money, both of which hasten the redemption… in particular 'when he comes into the sanctuary' - by the charity, which is called holiness, done on Purim day. It also hints that He will be charitable with Torah scholars, who are called holy; therefore it is certainly the case that 'he goes out', for they cause us to leave the exile - 'that he may not die'.
Dvar Tov, p.25b, Jerusalem, 1914

A Short Tribute
Hacham Shlomo Mazouz, son of Hacham Menachem Mazouz, was born in 1908 on the island of Djerba. He officiated as a rabbi and dayan in Djerba. Between 1935 and 1936 he published the Mekatziel journal on original commentary on Halakha and Talmud. He immigrated to Israel in 1956 and settled in Netivot. Once in Israel, he refused to work as a rabbi and made a living running a sewing supplies shop, thus earning the respect of Netivot's residents.

Hacham Shlomo Mazouz had nine children, among whom were Rabbi Yehezkel Mazouz - a rabbi in Netivot, Manny Mazouz – a Supreme Court judge, Yemima Mazouz – legal counsel to the Ministry of Finance and Shula Ben-Zvi – Director of the Israel Land Authority.

His son, Manny Mazouz, testifies that his father was a cultured person with a liberal and tolerant attitude, who held that people are each responsible for their actions and that all people, including his own children, have the right to choose their own direction and shape their own worldview in keeping with their understanding.

Hacham Shlomo Mazouz passed away on 25 Tevet, 5742 (1982).

Hacham Shlomo Mazouz authored many books, including Kerem Shalom – Halakhot governing interest, Hesheq Shlomo, in two parts – original commentary on the Talmud, Sho'el U'Meshiv – Responsa in four parts corresponding to the four parts of the Shulchan Aruch, and Kiseh Shlomo – a book of Responsa and original commentary on the Shulchan Aruch.

24 Tevet 5780.
The weather is going 28 and snowing today.
Have a good day!
Kaliyah:)

A Short Tribute
Hacham Hai Moise di Picciotto was the son of Hacham Hillel Haim di Picciotto, who immigrated to Aleppo, Syria from Livorno, Italy in 1732.

The di Picciotto family was a very respected and wealthy family that dealt in commerce and supported charitable institutions. Several members of the Picciotto family served as consuls to various European countries - including Italy, Austria and France - because they were European subjects, had excellent reputations and were known for their outstanding characters.

Hacham Hai Moise di Picciotto learned Torah from his father and from other sages. Writing about himself, he testifies that "Until the age of seventeen I was raised among sages and Talmud teachers" and that he studied with private tutors hired by his father "who went to such great lengths to raise me on Torah and worship, and to find me a master and teacher".

By the age of eighteen he had already begun to deal in commerce which, as he mentions in his book, he regretted.

Hacham Hai Moshe di Picciotto married the daughter of Hacham Mordecai Galante, Chief Rabbi of Aleppo. They were renowned as exceptionally warm and generous hosts.

Hacham Hai Moise di Picciotto passed away on 26 Tevet 5576 (1816) in Syria. Some two years before he died, he managed to have his book of ethics and sermons on Genesis and Exodus, VaYachel Moshe, publishe

Dear Dona Gracia: As we celebrate your 500th birthday (1510-2010) and your incredible accomplishments you rank among the most noble of women determined to succeed. Dona Gracia Nasi, born in Lisbon, Portugal (1510-1569) was one of the wealthiest Jewish women of the Renaissance who used her personal fortune and powerful contacts to help converts (forcibly converted Jews) prime victims of the Inquisition to flee to safety in the Ottoman Empire. Dona Gracia Nasi's negotiating skills, leadership and fierce commitment to her Jewish faith serves as a role model for women of all religious persuasions.

Her unwavering courage and leadership is a story worth the telling and inspires women today.

MODERN WOMAN

Dona Garcia lived at a time in which her actions, setbacks and strategies were surprisingly modern, and that is only one of the reasons I include her in this series on amazing women of the ages. Consider her name, for example, she never known by her husband's name Mendes and like other women of the l6th century, she retained her birth name, Beatrice de Luna, until she took her original Hebrew name in the Ottoman Empire, where she could live openly as a Jew. Never underestimate the powerful convictions of a woman such as Dona Garcia. She took control of her personal life and never relied on one doctor's opinion concerning a medical concern but immediately sought another doctor's opinion.

MARRIES INTO THE NASI DYNASTY

Beatrice de Luna was born into an ancient, venerable family of “Marranos,” (New Christians), that fled Portugal when Spain expelled its Jews in 1492. She married into the eminent international banking and finance dynasty of Mendes, and in 1528 when she was 18 years old, she married Francisco Mendes in a public Catholic wedding and then a Crypto-Judaic ceremony with the signing of a ketubah (a formal contract in a Jewish religious marriage). Francisco, along with his brother Diogo, ran a powerful trading company and bank of world repute with agents across Europe and around the Mediterranean. Following the opening of a sea route to India, they became important spice trader. After her marriage she was known as Dona Beatrice Mendes and in private life, called by her Jewish name, Gracia Nasi. (Dona is a formal title meaning “Mrs.

MANAGING THE FAMILY BUSINESS

Dona Beatrice Mendes was widowed in 1538 leaving her with an infant daughter, Brianda. Following her husband's death she went to Antwerp, where her brother-in-law Diogo Mendes had moved the family business years earlier. At his death in 1542 she took up the reigns of management and not only ran the family's banking business but the trading and shipping empire as well. She became a celebrated banker and as Diogo had done before, she continued using the family's contacts and international resources to help Jews escape the Inquisition, and by doing this act of bravery, her family was also constantly in danger.

A POWERFUL WOMAN

You may rightly wonder what prevented Dona Garcia from re-marrying? Remember she was a woman of her time but she knew the compulsory rules of the day. In the Renaissance Dona Garcia could not remarry and bear more children without making grave sacrifices. The laws of those days would have immediately handed control of her money and business to her new spouse. Instead she became a powerful woman managing the Mendes commercial empire and becoming a successful businesswoman. Legend has it that she was a fierce negotiator, tough and determined when it came to collecting debts, whether from fellow Jews or the royal courts of the day. Her enormous wealth put her into a position to influence kings and popes dealing involved commercial activities, loans and bribes. Payments to the Pope, for example, delayed the establishment of the Inquisition in Portugal.

PURSUED BY THE INQUISITION

During her travels through France, Italy, and Turkey the Inquisition pursued her and greedy local rulers attempted to confiscate the family fortune. With amazing determination, business acumen, shrewdness and diplomacy, she managed to escape each assault and continue to build the family business. Dona Beatrice and her family finally reached Turkey in 1553, where they settled near Constantinople, finally free to live as a Jew. She de-Christianized her maiden and married names and was called Garcia Nasi. She built synagogues, yeshivas and hospitals. Grace Nasi a noble and sainted woman of the ages died near Istanbul in 1569.

TO NEW BIOGRAPHY

The remarkable life of Dona Garcia Nasi deserves full disclosure as only a scholar can produce. Andree Aelion Brooks, award-winning author of a new biography of Dona Garcia Nasi called, “The Woman Who Defied Kings,” published by Paragon House (2002), presents the incredible story of Donna Garcia Nasi, the 16th century Jewish woman banker who developed an escape network that saved thousands of her fellow converses from the terrors of the Inquisition. Ms. Brooks is an associate fellow at Yale University and a former contributing columnist to the New York Times. She can be reached at andreebrooks@hotmail.com. A Journey into the Life and Times of «La Senora,» the first commemoration in honor of the 500th birthday of Dona Gracia Nasi was presented by
Ms. Brooks at The brotherhood Synagogue on June 6, 2010.