A Short Tribute

Hacham Yitzhak Even Denan, son of Hacham Samuel, was born on 15 Av, 5594 (1834) in Fes, Morocco.

Hacham Yitzhak Even Denan learned Torah from his father, Hacham Samuel of the Even Denan dynasty, which traces its ancestry to Maimonides. When his brother, Hacham Moshe Even Denan, died (1858), his son, Hacham Moshe Even Denan also began to study with his grandfather, Hacham Samuel, so that Hacham Yitzhak Even Denan studied together with his nephew, Hacham Shlomo Even Denan.

In 1875, Hacham Yitzhak Even Denan visited the Land of Israel with his nephew, Hacham Shlomo Even Denan.

In 1879, Hacham Yitzhak Even Denan was appointed Dayan in Fes.

Hacham Yitzhak Even Denan married and three of the couple’s children grew up to be Torah scholars: Hacham Maimon served as the Fes community treasurer, Hacham Samuel was a preacher, and Hacham Jacob was a shochet and a religious manuscript scribe.

Hacham Yitzhak Even Denan passed away on 24 Iyar, 5660 (1900) and was buried in Fes. His writings, published by his sons in a book entitled L’Yitzhak Re’akh, include responsa, textual commentary, and halakhic rulings.