Raphael Meir Panigel

Who is Raphael Meir Panigel?

Raphael Meir ben Judah Panigel was the Sephardi chief rabbi of Jerusalem, Palestine.

Panigel was born in Bulgaria, but his family emigated to the Land of Israel when he was a child. In 1828 and in 1863, he was an emissary on behalf of Jerusalem to the countries of North Africa, remaining there on both occasions for several years. In 1845 he travelled to Italy as an emissary of Hebron and was received with great respect at the Vatican by Pope Gregory XVI. In 1880 he was became rishon le-Zion, and in 1890 the Ottoman authorities appointed him hacham bashi. He was held in great esteem by all communities and authorities. He authored Lev Marpe, talmudic novellae, responsa, and homilies. His son-in-law, Jacob Saul Elyashar, later succeeded him.