A Short Tribute

Hacham Zion Sofer was born to Rivka and Kamos in 1885, in Djerba, Tunisia.

He began his Torah study with Hacham Yosef Berrebi and, as his Torah learning increased, studied with his friend, Hacham Mordecai Amayess Hacohen, who was chief head of Djerba's rabbinic courts, and corresponded with Hacham David Catorza, who would become Chief Rabbi of Tunisia.

Hacham Zion Sofer worked for a living and devoted himself to Torah study every spare moment he had. His manuscripts contain original commentary on Talmud and Bible, as well as sermons and writings on ethics and norms, translated to Judeo-Arabic dialect.

Hacham Zion Sofer married 'Azailla Saadon, Hacham Boguid Hai Saadon's sister, and the couple had two sons and two daughters born to them. One daughter, Kamssana, died in 1930, while her parents were still living, and the second, Shalvia, died in 1937, two months after her father. Their sons, Hacham Eliyahu Sofer and Hacham Abraham Sofer, gathered their fathers' writings and, with the help of Hacham Boguid Hai Saadon, had them published after his death in a book entitled Neve Zion.

Hacham Zion sofer passed away on 29 Shevat, 5697 (1937) and was buried in Djerba.