Hacham Machluf Idan


Hacham Machluf Idan

Date of Birth: 5640 (1880)
Date of Death: 18th of Kislev, 5707 (1947)
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A Short Tribute

Hacham Machluf Idan, the son of 'Azalla and Hacham Moshe Idan, was born in 1880 in Gabès, Tunisia. He first learned Torah from his Kabbalist father, Hacham Moshe Idan. After his father's death in 1894, his brother Hacham David Idan, who founded Djerba's first publishing firm, supported the family and raised him. He continued his studies with Hacham Yosef Berrebi, until he became an accomplished scholar.

Hacham Machluf Idan married Falila, a daughter of the wealthy Abraham Boukris from Djerba's Little Quarter, where the couple would subsequently reside.

He was the attendant of Hacham Moshe Zaqun Mazouz, president of the rabbinic court, who chose to teach children and is credited with having raised numerous students who served as ritual slaughterers, scribes, teachers and judges in the cities of Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco.

Hacham Machluf Idan went on to serve as rabbi and halakhic adjudicator of the Didjat quarter of Djerba.

In 1915, following the demise of his teacher Hacham Moshe Mazouz, he was appointed to the rabbinic court, as were Hacham Yosef Boukris who would later serve as rabbi of the town of Zarzis, and Hacham Haim Houri, who would subsequently be appointed rabbi of the city of Gabès.

Hacham Machluf Idan, for all his great Torah learning, was extremely humble, and would review eighteen chapters of the Mishna every day. He followed his father's example, by fasting and maintaining an ascetic daily routine, dipping devoutly in the ritual bath, and lived a pious life.

Hacham Machluf Idan passed away on 18 Kislev, 5707 (1947). His published work includes 'Amar Naqeh – sermons, Mincha 'Erev­ – Halakha on ta'arovet (mixtures and kashrut), Maleh Ha'Omer – on the Talmud, and Hessed Ve'Emet – a book of responsa published after his demise by his son, Hacham Tzaemach Idan.

A few quotes from the Rabbi on Torah Study
in which he teaches us to gather strength against one's inclination and study in poverty, and so attain delight and pleasure

The evil inclination is aware that Torah study leads to its obliteration and its being overpowered by the individual; Torah study prevents it from trying to seduce the individual into transgression. It therefore invests all its might in being a nuisance, and tries to lead one's heart to idleness and to avoiding Torah study. It may falsely present the individual as incapable of Torah study – for how can anyone, tired and weary in the evening after a long day's work to bring home a livelihood, study Torah? One evil thing leads to another, and one goes from neglecting Torah study to attending to the evil inclination, and that leads to thoughtless transgression. An Israelite must gather a lion's strength and overcome the evil inclination, and try to study Torah in poverty, so as to attain delight and pleasure, for such distress will lead to wellbeing.

Hacham Machluf Idan, 'Amar Naqeh, Sermons and Original Torah Commentary, p. 1a, Sermon for Shabbat HaGadol. Published by Idan, Cohen, Tzaban and Haddad, Djerba, 1949 From 'The Daily Sage'
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Rabbi Chananaia son of Akashia stated, God wanted to grant merits to Israel, therefore he gave them many laws and commandments as it states, "Because God wants righteousness he increased the amount of Torah and splendor." (Isaiah 42:21).