Hacham Yehuda Tzedaka


Hacham Yehuda Tzedaka

Date of Birth: 5670 (1910)
Date of Death: 12th of Cheshvan, 5752 (1991)
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A Short Tribute

Hacham Yehuda Tzedaka, son of Simcha and Shaul, was born in 1910, in Jerusalem. He attended the Bnei Zion Talmud Torah as a child and then went on to study at the Porat Yeshiva yeshiva. In 1934, he married Fahima Battat and the couple went to live in Jerusalem's Geula neighborhood. He spent his last years living in the Beit Israel neighborhood.

In 1937, he was appointed by Hacham Ezra Attiah, his principal teacher, to teach at the Porat Yosef yeshiva; in 1970 he was appointed Rosh Yeshiva at Porat Yosef.

His wife died in 1979 and Hacham Yehuda Tzedaka was married a second time, to Tamar Soudri, the daughter of Maimon Soudri, who served as beadle of the Porat Yosef yeshiva in Jerusalem's Old City.

Hacham Yehuda Tzedaka passed away on 12 Heshvan 5752 (1991), and lies buried in the Sanhedria cemetery in Jerusalem.

"It is our custom to light a yahrzeit candle in honor of the memory of the Sages, as it is said: “the life breath of man is the lamp of the Lord”. And it is good to add from the light of the Torah to the light of the candle, as it is said “For the commandment is a lamp, the teaching is a light”.

But even a few righteous are also good, and thanks to the sacred Torah and the teachings that Israel will learn in the Sage’s name on the anniversary of his death, the Holy One Blessed be He, will share our part with them, and we will never be ashamed because of our faith in the Holy One Blessed be He, and on his great benevolence and truth will we lean, for He hides his abundant goodness for those who are worthy and revere Him.”

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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."