A Short Tribute

Hacham Yitzhak Mejaled was born to Miriam Levi and Hachak Abraham Ben Shlomo in Baghdad, Iraq in 1835. His maternal grandfather, Hacham Moshe, was a leading Babylonian sage, and it was through his inspiration that a large Talmud Torah was founded in Baghdad.

Hacham Yitzhak Mejaled studied Torah at the Beit Zalicha study house and was one of Hacham Abdallah Somech's principal students.

In 1855 he began to serve as shochet in Baghdad and became known as Hacham Yitzhak Shochet.

In 1871 he began to officiate as second and third dayan in the Baghdad rabbinic court, and between 1893 and 1905 he officiated as the Hacham Bashi [Chief Rabbi] replacement. Over the years he certified ritual slaughterers and kashrut supervisors in Baghdad.

Hacham Yitzhak Mejaled married Freicha, Hacham Moshe Hillel' daughter, and the couple had five sons and four daughters.

Hacham Yitzhak Mejaled passed away on 1 Elul 5680 (1920) and as buried in Baghdad.

His work was published in Akim Et Yitzhak – sermons and responsa, and a collection of halakhic rules concerning shechita  and bediqa, in Tzalach Rakhev – commentary on the Pentateuch, Prophets and Writings, and Tehilot Israel – a commentary on the Book of Psalms