Yosef HaCohen Yitzhaki

Yosef Yitzhaki Ha'Cohen
Personal life
Born	Beylik of Tunis, Ottoman Empire
Died	January 1787
Parent	Yitzhak ben Shmuel (father)
Religious life
Religion	Judaism
Jewish leader
Predecessor	Masa'ud Raphael Alfasi
Successor	Nathan Borgel
Position	Chief Rabbi
Ended	1787
Yahrtzeit	23 Tevet
Buried	Mount of Olives Jewish Cemetery

Rabbi Yosef HaCohen Yitzhaki (Hebrew: יוסף הכהן יצחקי; died January 1787 (Anno Mundi: 23 Tevet 5547) was one of the great Jewish sages of Tunisia, and was head of the Beit Din as a Chief Rabbi in Tunis in the 18th century.

Biography

Yitzchaki was born in Tunis in the 18th century, and was ordained a rabbi at the age of 17, who were impressed with knowledge of halakha. He was known in literature as Rabbi Yosef HaCohen Yitzhaki Hadin (Hebrew: הדיין, lit. 'the judge'). He came from a long line of esteemed rabbis, the son of Yitzhak, son of Shmuel, son of Avraham.

He was notable for his extensive knowledge of Kabbalah, and corresponded with other famed Kabbalists including Shalom Sharabi and Yosef Kalamaro. He signed haskamas for many books of halakha for that generation, including the Zera Yitzhak by Rabbi Isaac Lumbroso, who also would serve as a local Chief Rabbi in Tunisia.

In 1775, after the death of Masa'ud Raphael Alfasi, he was appointed to the rabbinical position in Tunis and served until his death in 1787. He was buried in the Mount of Olives Jewish Cemetery, and was replaced in his post by Rabbi Nathan Borgel.