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Sephardi and Mizrahi Sources
Yizkor Books

4General Resources 4Jewish Encyclopedias 4Bibliographies of Hebrew Books 4General Bio-Bibliographical Works 4Chassidic Rabbis 4Biographies 4Family Genealogies, Part I 4Family Genealogies, Part II 4Sephardi and Mizrahi Sources 4Yizkor Books Regions 4Austria 4Belarus 4Galicia/Ukraine 4Germany 4Hungary 4Israel 4Italy 4Latvia/Estonia 4Lithuania 4Poland 4Romania 4Russia 4Slovak/Czech 4South Africa 4United States Periodicals 4Jewish Historical Periodicals 4Journals of Jewish Genealogy 4Articles Audiotapes CD-ROMs LANGUAGE KEY: (H) = Hebrew, (E) = English, (G) = German, (Y) = Yiddish, (F) = French, (R) = Russian, (P) = Polish To locate resources, see How to Locate Rabbinic Information Sources in Libraries and Archives.

SEPHARDI AND MIZRAHI (EASTERN) SOURCES

• Abensur-Hazan, Laurence. Les Pontremoli, deux dynasties rabbiniques en Turquie et en Italie -. préface de Mario Modiano. Paris: L. Abensur-Hazan, 1997. (F)
  • The Pontremoli, two rabbinic dynasties in Turkey and Italy. See alphabetical indexes of:
    • Names - www.geocities.com/EnchantedForest/1321/pontrnom.html
    • Places - www.geocities.com/EnchantedForest/1321/pontrlie.html
• Ben Naim, Yosef. Malkhei Rabanan. Jerusalem, 1931.(H)
  • A comprehensive anthology of Sefardi rabbis in Morocco. Arranged alphabetically by personal name. In 1995 Yad Ben Tsvi (Jerusalem) published an experimental version of indices prepared by Mathilde Tagger of Jerusalem. These are arranged by surname, compositions written by the rabbis, place of residence, date (both secular and Hebrew). This highly recommended source of 127 pages covers the period 1275-1929. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]
  • The book has been fully indexed (alphabetically arranged by surnames) in Latin letters with added biographical notes. It includes 1,750 Rabbis. You can find it on the web at: http://www.sephardicstudies.org/m-rab.html. [Comment by Mathilde Tagger]
• Catton, Sam. Men of Faith and Vision. New York: Sephardic Heritage Foundation, 2001. (E)
  • Available for free by calling Catton Brothers Corp., 112 W 34th St # 1905, New York, NY,
    212-695-6343. [Comment by Sarina Roffe]
• Chazan, Shelomo. Ha-maalot li-Shelomo. Alexandria, 1894. (Reprinted in Jerusalem, 1968). (H)
• Cohen, Benyamin Rafael. Malkhei Tarshish. Jerusalem, 1986. (H)
  • A 365 page anthology of Tunisian rabbinical families arranged according to surname. Indices by Mathilde Tagger published by Yad Ben Tsvi library in 1994 arranged by surname, composition, places of residence. Although the book commences from the period after the destruction of the Second Temple, the main part of the book covers the period 1690-1980. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1] See Tagger.
  • Biographical dictionary of Tunisian Rabbis, arranged by periods and families, with supplement at the end of each letter. [Comment by Mathilde Tagger]
• Frumkin, A. Toldot Khakhmei Yerushalayim. Jerusalem, 1872. (H)
  • History and biographies of scholars and rabbis who settled in Eretz Yisrael, particularly in Jerusalem, from the period of the Spanish Expulsion (1492) until the mid-nineteenth century. The Sephardi and Ashkenazy communities are presented in parallel but separately. Detailed supplementary notes by Eliezer Rivlin assist in the identification of some personalities and add later material. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]
• Galante, Abraham. Histoire des Juifs d'Izmir (History of the Jews of Izmir). Istanbul: M. Babok, 1937-39.
  • Jews of Izmir (Smyrna), Turkey, including rabbis. See alphabetical index of names: http://www.geocities.com/EnchantedForest/1321/indgal.html.
• Gaon, Moshe David. Yehudei Hamizrakh Be’erets Yisrael (Oriental Jews in the Land of Israel). Jerusalem, 1936. (H)
  • This 750-page work is in two volumes, the second is a history of rabbis and prominent scholars, writers, and communal leaders who worked towards the realization of the concept of Shivat Tzion, the return to Zion and the rebuilding of the land. Essentially a biographical anthology, this extensive work includes rabbis from Turkey, Syria (Haleb), Bulgaria, and the Balkan communities. It is arranged alphabetically by surname. Mathilde Tagger has prepared an index in Latin script which includes reference to the places where the rabbis were active. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]
  • A biographical dictionary of all the Sephardi and Mizrahi rabbis, plus some outstanding Jews, who visited, settled, lived, and died in Erets Yisrael. Tagger's Index of Gaon's Book in Latin Letters, includes biographical notes and is found at: http://www.sephardicstudies.org/gaon.html [Comment by Mathilde Tagger]
• Gedolei Salonica. (H)
  • An anthology of rabbis in Tripoli, Egypt and Syria. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]
• Harel, Yaron. Sifrei Aram Tsuba. Jerusalem: Ben Zvi Institute, 1997. (H)
  • Refers to Aleppo, Syria. Besides the analysis of each title, the book includes a biographical index of the authors. [Comment by Mathilde Tagger]
• Laniado, David Tsion. La Kedoshim asher bare"ts. Jerusalem, 1935, 1980. (H)
  • A source of Syrian families. Recommended by Rabbi Meir Wunder. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]
  • Partly reedited recently. The tombstones inscriptions of Aleppo Rabbis, 17th-19th century. See also:
    • Tagger, Mathilde. Index (Latin letters) of tombstone inscriptions of Izmir Rabbis annexed to Laniado's book on Aleppo Rabbis, which includes biographical notes on rabbis of Izmir, Turkey, as found in the inscriptions, found at: www.sephardicstudies.org/laniado.pdf (Adobe Acrobat required to view this file) [Comment by Mathilde Tagger]
    • Tagger, Mathilde. Index of tombstone inscriptions of Salonica Rabbis  annexed to Laniado's book on Aleppo Rabbis. Includes biographical notes as found in the inscriptions, found at: www.sephardicstudies.org/laniado.pdf (Adobe Acrobat required to view this file) [Comment by Mathilde Tagger]
• Larado, Avraham. Les Noms des Juifs du Maroc sa essai d’Onomastique Judeo-Marocaine. Madrid: Instituto d Arias Montano, 1978. (F)
  • Extensive biographic listing with detailed sources. Terrific for genealogists. [Comment by Jeff Malka]
  • An onomastic analysis of the surnames of the Jews of Morocco which includes much biographical material including rabbinical families in 1,161 pages. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]
• Marciano, Eliahu Rafael. Malkhei Yeshurun. Jerusalem, 2000. (H)
  • Extensive biographical listing of rabbis of Algeria. [Comment by Jeff Malka]
  • Biographical dictionary of Algerian rabbis, arranged by surname. [Comment by Mathilde Tagger]
• Modiano, Mario. Hamehune Modillano. Limited Non-commercial printing: Athens, 2000. pp.213. (E)
  • The book describes the genealogical structure of the Modiano Family from Salonika (Ottoman Empire until 1912, then Greece) which sprang from a family of rabbis who had immigrated from Italy and (presumably before that) Spain. The book's second edition can be downloaded from http://www.themodianos.gr/. [Comment by Mario Modiano]
• Otsar Yehude Sefarad: le-heker toldot Yehude Sefarad ve-tarbutam. Jerusalem, Israel. v. : ill.; 24 cm. Sefer 1 719 (1958 or 1959)-Ceased in 730 (1969 or 1970). (periodical) (H)
• Ovadia, David. Fez ve hakhameha. Jerusalem, 1979. (H)
  • Fez, Morocco, and its rabbis, from Yahas Fez. [Comment by Jeff Malka]
• Rozanis, S. Divrei Yemei Yisrael Betorgama. Tel Aviv, 1930. (H)
  • Details of the origin of families in the Turkish Empire including the Baltic countries. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]
• Serels, Rabbi Dr. Mitchell. A History of the Jews of Tangier in the 19th and 20th Centuries. New York: Sepher-Hermon Press, Inc., 1991. (E)
  • Has (not-inclusive) references and biographies of the following. [Comment by Sarina Roffe]
    Rabbi Judah Benchimonl
    Rabbi Salomon Benchimonl
    Chief Rabbi Judah Benchimonl
    Rabbi Yahya Auday
    Rabbi Abraham Bensusan
    Rabbi Mordecai Bengio
    Rabbi Isaac Bengualid
    Rabbi Shlomo Isaaci
    Rabbi Jacob Levy
    Rabbi Mordecai Laredo
    Chief Rabbi Saadia Rebboh
    Chief Rabbi Abraham Toledano
    Chief Rabbi Moses Toledano
    Rabbi Joseph Toledano
    Rabbi Aaron Toledano
    Rabbi Isaac Toledano
    Rabbi Jacob Toledano
    Rabbi Joshua Toledano
    Rabbi Pincus Toledano
    Rabbi Samuel Toledano
• Tagger, Mathilde. Maftehot lasefer Malkei Tarshish leRab. Benyamin Rafael Cohen (Index to Malkhei Tarshish). Jerusalem: Ben Zvi Institute, 1994. (H)
  • Includes surname alphabetical index, alphabetic list of book titles written by the rabbis, and alphabetical list of places. [Comment by Mathilde Tagger] See Cohen.
• Tagger, Mathilde. Chronological list of Chief-Rabbis of Bulgaria.
  • See: http://www.sephardicstudies.org/bulg-rab.html  [Comment by Mathilde Tagger]
• Tagger, Mathilde. Chronological list of Manisa Chief-Rabbis, in "Sephardic Community of Manisa."
  • Refers to Manisa, Turkey. Found at: http://www.sephardicstudies.org/manisa.html. [Comment by Mathilde Tagger]
• Tanugi, Y. Toldot Khakhmei Tunis. Bnei Brak, 1988. (H)
  • A source recommended by Rabbi Meir Wunder. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]
• Toledano, Joseph. Une Histoire de Familles: Les Noms de Famille Juifs d’Afrique du Nord des Origines a Nos Jours. Jerusalem: Ramtol, 1999. (F)
  • An anthology of families from North Africa and Egypt. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]

See also:

• Israel and other categories.
• Rav-SIG Online Journal for articles on Sephardic rabbis.
• SefardSIG web site for more information on Sephardic genealogical research.

YIZKOR BOOKS

Biographical information on rabbis may be contained in Yizkor books. A listing of all published Yizkor books is too lengthy to reproduce here. For more information, see the following:

• JewishGen Yizkor Book Project
• Libraries and Archives with Yizkor Book Holdings
• Retail Establishments with Yizkor Book Holdings
• Rav-SIG Links: Rabbis by Country

Pinkas Hakehillot. Multi-volume project published progressively by Yad Vashem, Jerusalem, Israel. (H) [See JewishGen Yizkor Book Translation Project]

• Whilst particular stress is given to the Holocaust period, the historical background and development of the communities is summarized. For many towns, this material constitutes the only extant source due to the dearth of information about a particular town. Volumes published to date include Poland, Germany, Rumania, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, Holland, Greece, and Libya. Some of these countries encompass several volumes. Although Pinkas Hakehillot does not present rabbinical genealogies in a formal genealogical structure, this important work of Yad Vashem has considerable value for rabbinical genealogical research. Each town entry includes a list of the rabbis who occupied the rabbinical seat over the period of Jewish settlement in the town. If there was an element of familial succession to this post, then the familial detail supplied, even if incomplete, is one of the sources for research. Where Chassidic dynasties held court in a town then the familial succession to the title of "Admor" or "Rebbe" is given considerable coverage. Individual scholars appear even if they held no official position. So the genealogist should refer to Pinkas Hakehillot, realizing that the information, while valuable is incomplete. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]

FOOTNOTE

1. All comments by Chaim Freedman are used with permission from his book, Beit Rabbanan: Sources of Rabbinic Genealogy. Petah Tikva, Israel: self-published, 2001. Mathilde Tagger (Jerusalem, Israel) provided the author with a selection of principal Sephardi sources.

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