Hacham Yosef Berrebi


Hacham Yosef Berrebi

Date of Birth: 5611 (1851)
Date of Death: 7th of Tishrei, 5680 (1919)
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A Short Tribute

Hacham Yosef Berrebi, son of Maori, was born in 1851 in Djerba. He was Hacham Sassi Cohen Yonatan's student and served as a dayan. He is often considered as Djerba's greatest Torah teacher, and most of the rabbis from Djerba and its surroundings of his period can be counted among his students, including Hacham Mordecai Amias Hacohen, Hacham Tzion Cohen Yonatan, and Hacham Khalfon Moshe Hacohen. Hacham Khalfon, writing about him in his book, Pakad Moshe, said that "Were it not for him, Torah would have been forgotten by the Jewish people".

Hacham Yosef Berrebi married three times yet had no children, which caused him great sorrow. In 1913, during his lifetime, his students published his book Yelidei Yosef. The book is in three parts, deals with ethics, and includes a selection of his sermons.

Hacham Yosef Berrebi passed away on 7 Tishrei 5679 (1919) in Djerba, where he was lain to rest. His book, Ben Porat Yosef, in three parts, which deals with renewed interpretations of the Bible, the six book of Mishna and responsa, was published after his death.

A few quotes from the Rabbi on Heritage of the Fathers
in which he teaches that the principal life story of the righteous consists of that which finds favor with God
The fact that the verses "Noah found favor with the Lord" and "Noah was a righteous man" are adjacent to each other, according to RASHI, of blessed memory, shows us that the principal life story of righteous people is their fulfilling of commandments and good deeds. That is the intent behind the adjacency of "Noah found favor with the Lord" and "Noah was a righteous man". Meaning, that what pleased the Lord through his Torah, fulfillment of commandments and good deeds are, in themselves, the life story of Noah.
Hacham Yosef Berrebi, Ben Porat Yosef, p. 2. Published by Maatuk Di Yaakv Bashiri and David 'Idan, Djerba, 1924 From 'The Daily Sage'
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"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” (Proverbs 20:27). 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” (Proverbs 6:23). And it is good to increase the teaching of the Sage on the anniversary of his death, as Rabbi Yochanan based on the teachings of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai said, “Each scholar whose sayings are taught in this world, his lips speak from the grave (Bechorot 31B).”

“Even if all of the skies are a blank parchment, and all human beings are clerks, and all of the forests are quills, we would never be able to write down what our Sages have taught us. 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." (Isaiah 42:21).