Community Magazine March 2009

L eaders have always been an essential part of history. Every successful country, state, city, community, institution, and group has had either political or spiritual leaders who have guided them to help forge their collective identity and pursue their collective goals. This has been especially true among the Jewish people. Since our nation’s founding with AvrahamAvinu, and until this very day, we have been blessed with capable spiritual leaders who have guided us throughout our tumultuous history. Sephardic religious leadership – particularly the positions of Chief Rabbi, Rishon LeSion, and Hacham Bashi – has a long and illustrious history. The title of Rishon LeSion – literally, “The First of Sion” (see Yeshayahu 41:27) – dates all the way back to 1665/5425, when it was assumed by Rabbi Moshe Galante z.s.l. Ever since then, this title was worn by the official rabbinic leader of the Jews of Eress Yisrael. Nowadays, the title of Rishon LeSion is worn by the Sephardic Chief Rabbi of the State of Israel. The term Hacham Bashi is the Turkish translation of Chief Rabbi, and this was the title of the official rabbinic leader of Turkish Jewry. In 1842, while Hacham Yona Moshe Navon z.s.l. served as Rishon LeSion in Israel, the Turkish authorities renamed the position to Hacham Bashi. This arrangement continued even after the region came under the rule of British Mandate in 1917, until the establishment of the Chief Rabbinate of Eress Yisrael in 1921. The Rabbinate system added an Ashkenazic leader to the Rishon LeSion, such that there was both an Ashkenazic and a Sephardic Chief Rabbi, an arrangement which continues to this day. The rabbis who held these leadership positions served as the official ambassadors of the Sephardic community to the ruling powers. They also led the civic establishment that was responsible for providing all the community’s needs, including assistance to the poor, burial, and operating a bet din (rabbinic court) that handled marriages, divorces and financial disputes. Despite the different names assigned to this position, the rabbis all filled the same role – to serve the community, advocate on their behalf, and, most importantly, represent the Name of Hashem and His people amongst the nations. The face of the Sephardic Jewry changed numerous times as a result of the difficult challenges and political transformations that took place in Eress Yisrael during this period. Yet, throughout all the upheavals, the rabbinic leadership’s role remained constant – to serve, help and represent the people, and to shape the future of Sephardic Jewry. We present here brief biographical portraits of the great Chief Rabbis who have led the Sephardic community of Eress Yisrael in the last 100 years. 36 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE e H i s t o y O f Sephardic Pillars Of Yesteryear The Sephardic Chief Rabbi of the British Mandate of Palestine from 1939 to 1948, and of the State of Israel from 1948 to 1954, Hacham Ben-Sion was born in Jerusalem and began teaching Torah already at the young age of 20. He also founded Yeshivat Mahazike Torah for young Sephardic students. In 1911, he was appointed Hacham Bashi of the Jaffa region, and worked vigorously to improve the condition of the Sephardic communities in Israel. In 1921, Hacham Ben-Sion was invited to become Chief Rabbi of Salonika, and the Tel Aviv-Jaffa community granted him a three- year leave of absence to fill this role. He returned to Eress Yisrael in 1923 and was named Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv, the position he served until his appointment as Chief Rabbi of Palestine in 1939. Hacham Ben-Sion also founded Yeshivat Shaar Sion in Jerusalem. He passed away in 1953/5713. Hacham Ben-Sion Meir Hai Uziel z.s.l. (1880/5640 -1953/5713 ), Hacham Yaakov Meir z.s.l. (1856/5616- 1939/5699) S a c C h i e f - R a s Born in Jerusalem to a fine family of Iraqi descent, Hacham Yaakov was the first Sephardic Chief Rabbi chosen under the British Mandate of Palestine. A great scholar with a passion for Jewish tradition, he was at the forefront of the effort to revive Hebrew as a spoken language. Hacham Yaakov was appointed Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem in 1911, and when the office of Chief Rabbi of Palestine was established in 1921, he was elected to fill the post with the title of Rishon LeSion, a position he held until his passing in 1939/5699. Hacham Yaakov was awarded the French Legion of Honor and received decorations from British, Turkish and Greek governments, as well as from other countries.