A Short Tribute
Hacham Yaakov Birdugo, son of Hacham Yekutiel, was born in Meknes, Morocco, in 1786 and was called El Hacham. He officiated as President of the Meknes rabbinic courts and headed the city's yeshiva.
Hacham Yaakov Birdugo passed away on 29 Av, 5601 (1841) and was buried in Meknes.
He authored the following works: To'afot Re'em – his commentary on Rabbi Eliyahu Mizrachi's book, Shevut Yaakov – poetry and Shufria DiYaakov – a collection of questions and responsa.
A few quotes from the Rabbi on 'Traditions of the Fathers' in which he rules that a woman redeems her son, should his father not be in the city
Should a mother wish to redeem her firstborn son whose father is not in the city she may redeem him; she may do so herself or have someone, as the father's messenger, do so. Just as HaSHa"CH (Rabbi Shabetai Hacohen) and the T"Z (Rabbi David HaLevy Segal, author of the Torei Zahav) wrote in Yorei De'ah Section 305 in the name of several rabbis, differing from Rabbeinu Mosheh Isserlich. We have also done so; I God's servant, in lieu of the boy's father, recited the blessing "who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to redeem the firstborn". As Maran wrote, concerning one who redeems himself.
Shufria DiYaakov, Yorei De'ah, p. 5a, Shmuel Halevy Zuckerman Press, Jerusalem, 1910
