Hacham Shlomo Bechor Hotzin


A Short Tribute

Hacham Shlomo Bechor Hotzin was born in 1843 in Baghdad, Iraq. He studied Torah at the Beit Zlicah study house with Hacham Abdallah Somech. He wrote extensively for the first Hebrew language journals, published in his day - HaLevanon, HaNagif, HaTzfira and HaHavatzellet - as well as in the Judeo-Arabic journals, Mevasser and Perach. He founded and participated in social and cultural societies, such as Hevrat Mekitz Nirdamim, and served as president of the Baghdad branch of Hevrat Shomrei Mitzvot. He was principal of the Midrash Talmud Torah boy's elementary school and taught Talmud in the Alliance Israelite School.

In 1867 he opened a book and manuscript business, and in 1888 he founded a publishing house, where he had more than 70 books published. The masterpiece of his endeavors in literature was a collection of some 150 traditional Jewish stories, some ancient and others contemporary, published in three volumes: Ma'aseh Nissim [Stories of Miracles], Ma'assim Tovim [Stories of Good Deeds] and Ma'assim Mefo'arim [Glorious Stories].

Hacham Shlomo Bechor Hotzin passed away on 8 Tishrei, 1892 and was buried in Baghdad. His writings include Talmud Kattan – original commentary on the Talmud, to which he added a set of instructions on moral behavior for pupils entitled Hanoch LaNa'ar. Several of his epistles were published in Lev Hakkak's book, Epistles by Rabbi Shlomo Bechor Hotizin.

A few quotes from the Rabbi on 'Torah Study' in which he instructs that one should earn a livelihood from the fruit of one's labor, and not depend on gifts from people

My dear child, when you will have learnt to read the book of God's Torah and its commentaries, and will have understood Talmud so that you know what God expects of you and how to comport yourself in keeping with the Torah and its commandments, you should choose a clean and light trade so that you may earn your livelihood from the fruit of your labor, honorably and without humiliation. You will then not depend on gifts from people – those provide but little yet bring great disgrace. Only guard your spirit, and be very careful not to abandon God's perfect Torah that brings wisdom to the naïve. Set a time to hear a lesson on a daily basis - in Talmud or Shulchan Aruch, and on books of morals and good values. Yours will be a good and pleasant destiny if you learn a trade and choose a craft that is needed by all people, in all places and at all times.

Talmud Kattan, Hanoch LaNa'ar, Chapter 3, Eliyahu Ben Amozegh Publishers, Livorno, 1877