A Short Tribute

Hacham Abraham Ankawa, son of Hacham Mordecai and also called Rabbi ABB"A, was born in Salé, Morocco in 1807. He learned Torah from Hacham Raphael Bibas in Salé. In time, he officiated in the Salé city rabbinate with Hacham Yitzhak Ben Soussan Halevy.

In 1850, he fled to Algeria from Muslims who sought to punish him for having rescued a young woman who had fallen into their hands and led her back to Jewish life. He settled in Tlemcen. He then moved to Mascara, where he officiated as a rabbi and dayan, and eventually moved to Oran.

Hacham Abraham Ankawa passed away on 16 Cheshvan, 5650 (1890).

He authored many works, including Kerem Chamor – Responsa, Chomer Chadat Ve'Atik – on Kabbala, Zachor Le'Avraham­ – on religious laws, Minei Targima – a commentary on the Hagaddah, and Mellel Le'Avraham – sermons.