Avraham Ashkenazi (1813–1880) was a Sephardi chief rabbi (Rishon LeZion). Rabbi Ashkenazi was born at Janishar, near

Salonica Thessaloniki (; el, Θεσσαλονίκη, , also known as Thessalonica (), Saloniki, or Salonica (), is the second-largest city in Greece, with over one million inhabitants in its metropolitan area, and the capital of the geographic region of ...

, in 1813.

Isidore Singer Isidore Singer (10 November 1859 – 20 February 1939) was an American encyclopedist and editor of ''The Jewish Encyclopedia'' and founder of the American League for the Rights of Man. Biography Singer was born in 1859 in Weisskirchen, M ...

Herman Rosenthal Herman Rosenthal (October 6, 1843 – 1917) was an American author, editor, and librarian. Biography Rosenthal was born in Friedrichstadt (Jaunjelgava), Courland. He was educated at Bauske (Bauska) and Jakobstadt (Jēkabpils), graduating in 18 ...

palestine Abraham Ashkenazi
''1901–1906 Jewish Encyclopedia'', Jewish Encyclopedia bibliography: '' Havatzelet'', 1880, No. 16; Ha-Zefirah, 1880, No. 7.S. H. Aged fifteen, he was taken by his father to

Jerusalem Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...

, where he studied rabbinical literature in the various colleges. The Turkish rabbis, in consulting him at the age of 35 on matters of religious law, addressed him as "Gaon." He authored several responsa and novellae. In 1850, he was appointed '' dayyan'' (religious judge) of the Jewish community of Jerusalem with the support of both

Sephardim Sephardic (or Sephardi) Jews (, ; lad, Djudíos Sefardíes), also ''Sepharadim'' , Modern Hebrew: ''Sfaradim'', Tiberian: Səp̄āraddîm, also , ''Ye'hude Sepharad'', lit. "The Jews of Spain", es, Judíos sefardíes (or ), pt, Judeus sefa ...

and

Ashkenazim Ashkenazi Jews ( ; he, יְהוּדֵי אַשְׁכְּנַז, translit=Yehudei Ashkenaz, ; yi, אַשכּנזישע ייִדן, Ashkenazishe Yidn), also known as Ashkenazic Jews or ''Ashkenazim'',, Ashkenazi Hebrew pronunciation: , singu ...

. In 1857 he became the ''

Av Beth Din The ''av beit din'' ( ''ʾabh bêth dîn'', "chief of the court" or "chief justice"), also spelled ''av beis din'' or ''abh beth din'' and abbreviated ABD (), was the second-highest-ranking member of the Sanhedrin during the Second Temple period, ...

'' (chief judge) and in 1869 the rabbis of Jerusalem elected him as their chief in succession to Haim David Hazzan, who died in that year. The sultan, in confirming Ashkenazi's election, conferred upon him the title of ''

Hakam Bashi ''Haham Bashi'' (chachampasēs) which is explained as "μεγάλος ραβίνος" or "Grand Rabbi". * Persian: khākhāmbāšīgarī is used in the Persian version of the Ottoman Constitution of 1876. Strauss stated that there was a possibili ...

'', whereby he became chief rabbi of Palestine, which post he held for about twelve years. The sultan also bestowed upon him the

Order of the Medjidie Order of the Medjidie ( ota, نشانِ مجیدی, August 29, 1852 – 1922) is a military and civilian order of the Ottoman Empire. The Order was instituted in 1851 by Sultan Abdulmejid I. History Instituted in 1851, the Order was awarded in f ...

; and Emperor

Franz Josef of Austria Franz Joseph I or Francis Joseph I (german: Franz Joseph Karl, hu, Ferenc József Károly, 18 August 1830 – 21 November 1916) was Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary, and the other states of the Habsburg monarchy from 2 December 1848 until h ...

, when at Jerusalem, decorated him with the Franz Josef medal. The

Tomb of Simeon the Just The Tomb of Simeon the Just or Simeon the Righteous ( he, קבר שמעון הצדיק; translit. ''Kever Shimon haTzadik'') is an ancient tomb in Jerusalem. According to scholarly consensus, based on an ''in situ'' inscription, it is the 2nd-ce ...

in Jerusalem was registered in his name. Ashkenazi was very popular among Christians and Muslims as well as among Jews; at his funeral most of the foreign consuls were present. He died at Jerusalem on January 22, 1880.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ashkenazi, Abraham 19th-century rabbis in Jerusalem Rishon LeZion (rabbi) Sephardi rabbis in Ottoman Palestine Chief rabbis of Jerusalem Burials at the Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives 1813 births 1880 deaths Recipients of the Order of the Medjidie