A Short Tribute

Hacham Hizkiya David Aboulafia was born to Mordecai Aboulafia, who was the grandson of Rabbi Haim Aboulafia the First, one of those who renewed the Jewish settlement in Tiberias.

He may have been the author of Ben Zequnim, published in 1793 in Livorno. The book contains two parts: Yesod 'Olam – six chapters on the principles of the Talmud, and Mizmor LeDavid – poems, aphorisms and dirges.

Hacham Hizkiya David Aboulafia married the daughter of the rabbi of Trieste, Hacham Yitzhak Formigioni, but they had no children (hence the title of his book, Ben Zequnim – a child born in his or her parents' old age). Additional manuscripts of his, Shigaion David and Kina Mintoba, were apparently lost in a fire.

Hacham Hizkiya David Aboulafia passed away on 7 Heshvan, 5533 (1772), and is believed to be buried next to Zecharia's tomb, at the foot of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.