A Short Tribute

Hacham Raphael Abraham Shalom Mizrachi Sharabi was born to Simcha, daughter of Hacham Yitzhak Kovo, and Hacham Hizkiyahu Yitzhak Sharabi, son of Hacham Shalom Sharabi (RaSHa"SH), in 1775, in Jerusalem.

He began to serve as Rosh Yeshiva of the Beit El kabbalist yeshiva in Jerusalem's Old City in 1808, and filled this role his entire remaining life. He traveled to Damascus in 1820 as head of a rabbinic delegation whose mission was to rescue Minister Haim Farchi, the right-hand man of the Sidon Walli [governor of the Galilee and Lebanon]. They were unsuccessful, and Minister Haim Farchi was murdered by agents sent by Abdallah Pasha, governor of Acre.

Hacham Raphael Abraham Shalom Mizrachi Sharabi's outstanding students included Hacham Yedidya Raphael Abulafia and Raishon LeZion Haim Abraham Gaguine, who served as heads of the Beit El yeshiva after him. Rishon LeZion Haim Abraham Gaguine married Hacham Raphael Abraham Shalom Mizrachi Sharabi's daughter.

Hacham Raphael Abraham Shalom Mizrachi Sharabi passed away on the first night of Hanukkah in 1827 and was buried in Jerusalem. His book, Darkei Shalom, contains sermons and textual interpretation.