Chaim Abraham Gagin | |
|---|---|
 image attributed to Chaim Abraham Gaguine | |
| Personal life | |
| Born | 1787 |
| Died | 23 May 1848(1848-05-23) (aged 60–61) |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Judaism |
| Jewish leader | |
| Predecessor | Yehuda Navon |
| Successor | Yitzhak Kovo |
| Position | Chief Rabbi of Ottoman Palestine |
| Began | 1842 |
| Ended | 1848 |
Chaim Abraham Gagin (1787–1848) wasChief Rabbi of Ottoman Palestine from 1842 to 1848. He was a foremostposek,mekubal, author, and the head of the Tiferet Yerushalaim Yeshiva. One of his notable actions was saving theSamaritans from extermination.
Born inConstantinople,[1] he was the grandson of the JerusalemKabbalistShalom Sharabi.[2] Gagin was the first individual to hold both the positions ofHakham Bashi andRishon Lezion simultaneously following their merger.[1] This appointment granted him formal recognition as the representative of theJewish community to the government, endowing him with judicial, religious, and civic authorities.[1]
Regarded as one of the foremostposkim (Jewish legal decisors) of his era, Gagin also oversaw the Tiferet Yerushalaim Yeshiva.[1] Among his notable works isSepher Hatakanoth Vehaskamoth, a compendium of Jewish religious rites and customs as practiced in the City of Jerusalem.[2][3] He was also the author ofChukei Chaim, a work addressing the debate onhalukka, andSefer Chaim MiYerushalaim, a collection ofderashot.[1]
He supported the establishment of Rabbi Yisrael Bak's printing house in Jerusalem, where some of his books were printed.[1]
During the 1840s, theSamaritans faced persecution from Muslims who regarded them as "idol worshippers", forcing them to convert to Islam or face execution. The Samaritans asked Gagin to help them, and he wrote a document that the Samaritans are a "a branch of the children of Israel, who acknowledge the truthfulness of the Torah." This proclamation led Muslim authorities to recognize the Samaritans as a Jewish sect, saving them from persecution and extermination.[4][5][6]
Gagin was interred on theMount of Olives.[1]
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