Josiah ben Joseph Pinto

Who was Josiah ben Joseph Pinto?

Josiah ben Joseph Pinto was a Syrian rabbi and preacher born at Damascus. His father, Joseph Pinto, was one of the rich and charitable men of that city. Josiah was a pupil of various rabbis in Talmud and Kabala, and later, after his father's death, he studied Talmud under Jacob Abulafia, who ordained him as rabbi. Pinto's permanent residence was at Damascus, where later he officiated as rabbi until his death in Feb. or March 1648. He went twice to Aleppo, and in 1625 he moved to Safed with the intention of settling there, but the death of his young son, Joseph, which occurred a year later, induced him to return to Damascus.