Rav Yisroel Yaakov Algazi · Yahrzeit 6 Tammuz, 1756

Biography

Early years

Rav Yisroel Yaakov Algazi zt"l was born about 5440 (1680). His father was Rav Yom Tov Algazi, son of Rav Shlomo Algazi, author of Yavin Shemua. The Algazi family was a distinguished one, and it produced many Rabbonim and Roshei Yeshiva.

From his youth, Rav Yisroel Yaakov was renowned as a talmid chochom. He served as a personal attendant to the venerated Rabbonim of Yerushalayim.

Rav of Yerushalayim

After the petira of the Batei Kehuna, Rav of Yerushalayim, Rav Yisroel Yaakov was called to fill the vacant post. He served the Sephardic kehilla of Yerushalayim with distinction.

He also headed the thriving Beit El Yeshiva in Yerushalayim, from which many talmidim went on to become Gedolei Yisroel. He remained Rav of the Yerushalayim kehilla until his petira.

A hidden life and his seforim

Rav Yisroel Yaakov led a quiet life. He avoided the limelight, served Hashem, and refused to publish his chiddushim. Even so, the Rabbonim of his time revered him, and the Sha'ar HaMelech, whenever he mentioned him in his seforim, called him "a holy and humble Chassid."

In 5497 (1737) he fell gravely ill, and the doctors all but gave up hope. In his hour of distress, Rav Yisroel Yaakov vowed to publish his chiddushim. Miraculously, his health returned.

He then published many seforim, which give some glimpse of his greatness in Torah. Among his twenty-five seforim are Ar'a d'Rabbanan, Emes L'Yaakov, Ne'os Yaakov, Sheima Yaakov, She'eiris Yaakov and Klal Godol. Ar'a d'Rabbanan was reprinted many times, and Rav Yehuda Ayash wrote a commentary on it called Afra De'ar'a.

Passing and legacy

Rav Yisroel Yaakov was niftar on the 6th of Tammuz 5516 (1756). His son, the well-known Ri"t Algazi, continued his father's legacy and was a Godol b'Yisroel in his own right.

Seforim

Ar'a d'Rabbanan: His best-known sefer, reprinted many times; Rav Yehuda Ayash wrote a commentary on it called Afra De'ar'a.
Emes L'Yaakov
Ne'os Yaakov
Sheima Yaakov
She'eiris Yaakov
Klal Godol

Family & talmidim

C:

The Ri"t Algazi:

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