Hacham David Kadosch

Date of Birth: 2nd of Tishrei, 5677 (1917)
Date of Death: 2nd of Tishrei, 5750 (1989)

The Daily Sage, a database of Jewish Spanish sages

A Short Tribute

Hacham David Kadosch was born to Rina and Hacham Yosef Kadosch on 2 Tishrei, 5677 (1917), in Marrakesh, Morocco. All of his siblings born before him died at birth. His mother made a pilgrimage to the Tzaddik Rabbi David Liskar's tomb, and following her prayers, Hacham David Kadosch was born and granted life. He was named after Rabbi David Liskar.

Hacham David acquired much of his Torah learning from Hacham Yaacov Dahan. He was preaching in public by the time he was Bar Mitzvah age, and at a young age was the one to repeat Talmud lessons (Shi'urim) to students.

Hacham David Kadosch founded the Ahavat Shalom Society, whose objective was to reconciliate married couples and to establish peaceful relations between individuals in general.

He eventually immigrated to the Holy Land and settled in the city of Nahariya.

Hacham David Kadosch passed away on 2 Tishrei, the second day of Rosh Hashanah, 5749 (1989) and was buried in Jerusalem. After his death, his sons published Lev David – LeHaMagid MeMarrakesh, in which they collected Torah learning they had heard and learned from their father.

A few quotes from the Rabbi on Tzedakah and Hesed

in which he teaches that while the poor should always eat at one's table, it suffices to lend money to all others

"If you lend money to My people, to the poor among you, do not act toward them as a creditor; exact no interest from them". This comes as a warning, in case you might not wish to give to a person as a gift and be content with giving only a loan. This is actually (appropriate) for the rest of the people – those who are wealthy and well-off, but concerning the poor person, do not remain content with giving the chance gift when they happen to come by. They should always eat at your table, as the Tannah (Mishnaic sage) said, "…may the poor be members of your household". This is why "If you lend money" is written; it means to say that if you seek to be content with giving a loan, that is for "My people" – the wealthy and the well-off. But a loan is not sufficient for the poor person – they are to be among you when eating, with you when drinking. And should it happen that the poor always eat and drink with a person, and that with time they begin to act in trickery so that the poor person understand on their own and leave; or begin to ignore them at mealtimes, and from time to time act forgetfully and not call them to share bread, so that they understand on their own and leave; or trick the borrower by pretending that they need to receive interest from them while they really must not, so that the poor individuals conclude that they are short of money and leave them on their own... That is why concerning the first case, it says "do not act towards them as a creditor" – don't pretend to forget to eat and, concerning the second case, it says, "exact no interest from them": Do not take interest that you do not need, just to make them understand on their own and leave.

Hacham David Kadosch, Lev David, Volume 1, p.30. Published privately by the author's sons, 1990 From 'The Daily Sage'