A Short Tribute

Hacham Yosef David, son of Hacham David Shabtai, was born in Salonica, in approximately 1660. He learned Torah first from his father, and went on to study with Hacham Yitzhak Alaniado and Hacham Binyamin Asa'el.

In 1702, Hacham Yosef David was appointed as a dayan and, in 1728, as President of Salonica's rabbinic court and community. He issued responsa to hundreds of halakhic questions that reached him from the entire region – Salonica, Turkey, Egypt, Italy and more. He headed the senior yeshiva, where one of his greatest students was Hacham Yosef Molcho, author of the Shulchan Gavohah.

Hacham Yosef David passed away on 2 Kislev 5496.

Hacham Yosef David authored many works: Beit David – Responsa on the Arba' Torim, Yemei David – sermons, Tzemach David – on the Torah, Yikra Dishkevi – eulogies and sermons, Lehem HaPanim – on the Passover Haggadah, and Batei Avot – on Tracate Avot.