Abraham Ashkenazi

Who is Abraham Ashkenazi?

Abraham Ashkenazi was the Sephardi chief rabbi of Palestine.

Ashkenazi was born at Janishar, near Salonica, in 1813. Aged fifteen, he was taken by his father to Jerusalem, where he studied rabbinical literature in the various colleges. The Turkish rabbis, in consulting him at the age of 35 on matters of religious law, addressed him as "Gaon." He authored several responsa and novellae.

In 1850, he was appointed dayyan of the Jewish community of Jerusalem with the support of both Sephardim and Ashkenazim. In 1857 he became the Av Beth Din and in 1869 the rabbis of Jerusalem elected him as their chief in succession to Hayyim David Hazan, who died in that year. The sultan, in confirming Ashkenazi's election, conferred upon him the title of Hakam Bashi, whereby he became chief rabbi of Palestine, which post he held for about twelve years. The sultan also bestowed upon him the Order of the Medjidie; and Emperor Franz Josef of Austria, when at Jerusalem, decorated him with the Franz Josef medal.

The Tomb of Simeon the Just in Jerusalem was registered in his name. Ashkenazi was very popular among Christians and Mohammedans as well as among Jews; and at his funeral most of the foreign consuls were present. He died at Jerusalem on January 22, 1880.