A Short Tribute
Hacham David Hacohen Yehonatan, known as the Baba Siddi, was born to his mother and father, Hacham Zion Hacohen, in 1887, in Djerba.
Hacham David Hacohen Yehonatan studied Torah with Hacham Joseph Berreby and Hacham Shushan Hacohen.
He officiated as Rabbi and Dayan of the city of Zarzis, Tunisia, yet made a living from commerce.
Hacham David Hacohen Yehonatan immigrated to Israel in 1962 and settled in Ashdod.
Hacham David Hacohen Yehonatan passed away on 3 Tammuz, 5725 (1965).
The Beit David synagogue in Ashdod was built in Hacham David Hacohen Yehonatan's commemoration.
His writings were published after his decease in two books: Divrei David – sermons on the Reading Portions, and Yad David - in two volumes: on the Mishna, and Questions and Responsa.
A few quotes from the Rabbi on 'Traditions of the Fathers' in which he teaches that designating a fowl for the Sabbath is has the significance of a vow, but the fowl can be replaced
Question: When people say, as is the custom, that "This fowl is for the Sabbath", or for the Festival and the like – Is this to be considered a vow? And if it is considered a vow, can one leave it aside and purchase some meat or another fowl in its place?
Reply: It seems to me that this counts completely like a vow, since the pleasure of Sabbath and Festivals is a commandment. Why would one say that it is not a vow? As for the question of replacing it, it seems that one may do so, see Shulchan Aruch Yoreh De'ah on laws governing charity, Section 259, a: A person who designates a stone [amount] for charity or states that "this stone is my gift" and puts it aside may change it before he comes to the beadle, borrow it for themselves, or lend it to a fellow person and pay with a replacement. The sanctity of the pleasure of Sabbath is certainly no greater than the sanctity of coins for charity, and since we find that one can replace funds designated for charity, that is the law concerning what has been designated for the pleasure of the Sabbath. One can replace it and eat something else in its place, and certainly if it is of better quality than is the first, and provides more pleasure than the one originally designated for the Sabbath.
Yad David, Questions and Responsa, p. 430b, published by Haddad Press, Netivot, 1959
