Hacham Yaacov Even Tzur
Date of Birth: 5433 (1673)Date of Death: 2nd of Tevet, 5513 (1753)
Hacham Yaacov Even Tzur, son of Hacham Reuven Even Tzur, was born in 1673 in Fez, Morocco. He began learning Torah from his father, who was known as an exemplary scholar, but in 1684, when his father died, he went on to study with the city's sages.
In 1698, after his brother, Hacham Yosef Even Tzur, died Hacham Yaacov Even Tzur married his brother's wife in a levirate marriage.
He excelled as a scribe at a young age and was appointed as the scribe of the Fes rabbinic court sages Hacham Vidal Hatzarfati and Hacham Menahem Sariro. He served in this role for eleven years. During this period, he authored 'Et Sopher – in which he wrote out the wording of various writs and contracts and their required Halakhot.
In 1704, Hacham Yaacov Even Tzur was appointed to serve as a member of Hacham David Ben Attar and Hacham Samuel Hatzarfati's rabbinic court. In 1733, following Hacham Yehuda Ben Attar's demise, Hacham Yaacov Ben Tzur succeeded him as president of the rabbinic court.
A heavy tax, levied on the Jews of Fes, made him move to Meknes for a certain period of time. In 1738, the city was struck by severe famine and Hacham Yaacov Even Tzur moved again, this time to Tetuan. Although Hacham Yaacov Even Tzur lived principally in Fes, Halakhic questions were referred to him from all over Morocco, Hacham Yaacov Even Tzur was party to numerous public amendments on matters pertaining to education, family, and community. He was also a renowned poet and paytan, and wrote some four hundred piyutim, collected in the book Et LeKol Hafetz.
His life was marked by tragedy time and again; sixteen of his seventeen children died while he was still living. His only surviving son, Hacham Oved Even Tzur, succeeded him in the rabbinic court after his demise.
Hacham Yaacov Even Tzur passed away on a Sabbath Eve, on 2 Tevet, 5513 (1753) and was buried in Morocco. He authored numerous works, some of which remain in manuscript form: Mishpat U'Tzedakah B'Yaacov – responsa, in two volumes, 'Et Sopher – writs and contracts, 'Et LeKol Hafetz – piyutim, 'Et Sephod – lamentations and reproofs, Leshon Limudim – witticisms and rhymes, and Va'Yikra YaBeTZ – sermons.
