Yosef Hayyim

Yosef Hayyim was born in Baghdad, Iraq, on November 1, 1834. He was a descendant of a prominent rabbinic family that traced its lineage to the exilarchs of Babylon. He studied Torah from a young age with his father, who was a renowned scholar and kabbalist. He also learned from his uncle, David Hai Ben Meir, and his mentor, Abdallah Somekh. He married Rachel, the niece of Somekh, in 1851 and had three children. He became the leader of the Jewish community of Baghdad after his father's death in 1859, although he never held the official title of Hakham Bashi. He was widely respected as a great authority on halakha (Jewish law) and kabbalah (Jewish mysticism). He wrote many books and responsa on various topics, but his most famous work is Ben Ish Hai, a collection of halakhic rulings and kabbalistic teachings arranged according to the weekly Torah portions. He addressed the book to the masses, using simple language and examples from everyday life. He also included many customs and practices that he derived from the Zohar and other mystical sources. The book became very popular among the Sephardi Jews, especially in the Middle East, and is still widely studied and followed today. Yosef Hayyim was also known for his piety, humility, and generosity. He helped the poor and the needy, and supported many Torah institutions. He was also involved in the ecumenical dialogue with other Jewish communities, and corresponded with many rabbis from different countries. He died in Baghdad, Iraq, on August 30, 1909, and was buried in the city's Jewish cemetery. He is regarded as one of the greatest Sephardi rabbis of all time, and is often referred to by the name of his magnum opus, Ben Ish Hai.