Yosef Qafih

Yosef Qafiḥ (Hebrew: יוסף קאפח), widely known as Rabbi Kapach (27 November 1917 – 21 July 2000), was a Yemenite-Israeli authority on Jewish religious law (halakha), a dayan of the Supreme Rabbinical Court in Israel, and one of the foremost leaders of the Yemenite Jewish community, first in Yemen and later in Israel. He is widely known for his editions and translations of the works of Maimonides and other early rabbinic authorities (Rishonim), particularly his restoration of the Mishneh Torah from old Yemenite manuscripts and his accompanying commentary culled from close to 300 additional commentators[1] and with original insights. He was the grandson of Rabbi Yiḥyah Qafiḥ, also a prominent Yemenite leader and founder of the Dor Deah movement in Yemen. Rabbi Yosef Qafih was the recipient of many awards, as well as an Honorary Doctorate from Bar-Ilan University.

Biography

Yosef Qafiḥ was born in (27 November 1917) in Sana’a in Yemen.[2] His father was Rabbi David Qafiḥ, who died when his son Yosef was one year old. At the age of five Rabbi Yosef also lost his mother, and was raised by his grandfather Rabbi Yiḥyah Qafiḥ, under whom he studied Torah. When Yosef was 14 his grandfather died and he inherited his position as rabbinic authority and teacher of the Sana’a community. In his early years he worked as a silversmith. He married Bracha.

In 1943 he immigrated to Palestine, studied at the Merkaz HaRav yeshiva and qualified as a dayan at the Harry Fischel Institute. In 1950 he was appointed as a dayan in the Jerusalem district court, and later was appointed as a dayan at the Supreme Rabbinical Court. Throughout the course of more than half a century numerous rabbis sat on various rabbinical courts with him, including Rabbis Tzvi Pesach Frank, Yosef Shalom Eliashiv,[3] Ovadia Yosef, Avraham Shapira, Mordechai Eliyahu, and the Tzitz Eliezer.[4] He was a member of the Chief Rabbinate Council of Israel, and presided over the Yemenite community in Jerusalem, as well as spreading Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda Kook's teachings among the Israeli Sephardi populace. He died on 21 July 2000 at the age of 82.

Scholarship

His main work in the field of Torah literature was his translation and publication of manuscripts of numerous works by Sephardic Rishonim, including HaNivchar BeEmunot UVa-Deot of Saadia Gaon, the Torat Chovot HaLevavot by Bahya ibn Pakuda, the Kuzari by Judah ha-Levi and many other works in Judaeo-Arabic. The prime place in his oeuvre is reserved for the writings of Maimonides: he translated the Guide for the Perplexed, the Commentary on the Mishnah and the Sefer Hamitzvot and edited a 24-volume set of the Mishneh Torah (posthumously divided into 25). His works and translations received recognition from the academic and Rabbinic world alike. Rabbi Ovadia Yosef wrote that the seven years he sat with "the great Gaon Rabbi Yosef Kapach ZT"L" in the beth din were "seven good years"[5] and that Rabbi Kapach toiled over his Torah day and night.[6]

He studied and wrote extensively on the heritage of Yemenite Jews. He published a book under the title of “Halichot Teman”, and edited the “Shivat Tzion” tiklal, a Yemenite prayer book reflecting the views of Maimonides in three volumes. In 1993 he published a new version under the title of “Siaḥ Yerushalayim” in four volumes (posthumously edited to six). Qafiḥ identified with the Dor Dai tendency, except that he did not publicly express opposition to the Zohar beyond saying that it was preferable to draw sustenance from the teachings of Maimonides. In his leadership of the Yemenite community in Israel he endeavored to maintain peace between the main factions in the community and worked to preserve Yemenite customs. In matters pertaining to Yemenite customs, even where later customs conflict with the earlier custom, Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu regarded the opinion of Rabbi Kapach, who he called Mori Yusef (Hebrew: מארי יוסף),[7] to be decisive.[8]

Awards

Published works

Recorded Lectures

Posthumously, Machon Mishnat HaRambam has, to date, put out the following CDs (in MP3 format) with Rabbi Yosef Kapach's recorded lectures (Hebrew: שיעורים מפי הרה"ג יוסף קאפח):

See also

References

  1. http://www.torah.org/learning/rambam/special/kapach.html (English translation). ספר אהבה מהדורת הרב קאפח (Hebrew original), page טו (p. 13 of linked Otzar HaHochma pagination).
  2. http://www.chayas.com/rabbi.htm
  3. I.e., prior to his 1972 resignation from the rabbinate's Supreme Beit Din due to Rabbi Shlomo Goren (Of Books and Bans page 5, http://www.nevo.co.il/law_html/law10/YALKUT-1875.pdf#page=5 p. 453 [Hebrew]) and the brother and sister verdict.
  4. עדות ביהוסף, פתח דבר (page 3 of the linked Otzar HaHochma pagination).
  5. Hebrew: שבע שנים טובות. See Genesis 41:26.
  6. Rabbi Ovadia Yosef in the Hebrew responsa book שו"ת הריב"ד להרב הגאון יוסף בן דוד קאפח זצ"ל, cited in the Or Hahalichot periodical (Tammuz 5769, page 3). — שו"ת הריב"ד קאפח זצ"ל, תשובות בהלכה מאשר הורה לשואליו דבר ידיד נפשי המנוח הדגול, שייף עייל שייף נפיק, הגאון הגדול רבי יוסף קאפח זצ"ל. זכרתי ימים מקדם, עת ישבנו עם הגאון זצ"ל בשבת תחכמוני, בבית הדין הרבני האיזורי, שבע שנים טובות, ואחר כך המשכנו בבית הדין הגדול לערעורים, שבת אחים גם יחד, בנעימות וידידות, כתלמידי חכמים שבארץ ישראל המנעימים זה לזה בהלכה... הגאון המנוח זצ"ל בחיים חיותו היה שקוד על תורתו יומם ולילה, לילה כיום יאיר כחשכה כאורה, ובמיוחד התמסר בכל מאודו ונפשו, ויגע בעשר אצבעותיו להפיץ את תורתו של הרמב"ם, וכתב עליה חיבורים רבים המלאים חכמה תבונה ודעת, מתוך דיוק הדק היטב בתורתו של הרמב"ם.
  7. שתמיד הקפיד בלשונו לכנות את הגר"י קאפח בכינוי: "מארי", על אף שבפי אחינו הספרדים רגילים לומר "חכם"
  8. במחיצת המאורות הגדולים: הגר"מ אליהו והגר"י קאפח, Or Hahalichot periodical, Tammuz 5770 issue.
  9. "List of Bialik Prize recipients 1933-2004 (in Hebrew), Tel Aviv Municipality website" (PDF).
  10. "Israel Prize Official Site - Recipients in 1969 (in Hebrew)".
  11. "Israel Prize Official Site - Recipients in 1999 (in Hebrew)".
  12. http://www.kedma.org/socialaction.htm
  13. http://www.otzar.org/wotzar/book.aspx?23506&lang=eng (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  14. E.g., in his edition of Iyyov, page יב, footnote 35. Collected Papers Volume 1, page 477, footnote 7. פירושי רבינו סעדיה גאון על התורה (revised new edition, 1984), page מח (Genesis 27:28), end of footnote 4.
  15. Kapach's edition of Iyyov, הקדמת רס"ג, page טו, footnote 54. — "ישעיה מ, י. סב יא. וראה פירושו לפרק סב מהד' דירינבורג עמ' 142."
  16. Presumably "Texte Arabe de l'Isaïe de Saadia," in Stade's "Zeitschrift," ix., x., Giessen, 1889-90. (http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/5105-derenburg-derenbourg; see also The Jewish Quarterly Review, January 1896, Joseph Derenbourg, page 192 — "He himself published in Stade's Zeitschrift" etc.).
  17. http://www.virtualgeula.com/moshe/catd1.jpg, Machon MosHe 2003 Catalog List, http://hebrew-academy.huji.ac.il/al_haakademya/haverim/haverimbeavar/Pages/yehudaratsabi.aspx
  18. Available online at http://www.hebrewbooks.org/39855 but missing pages רמד-רמה (pages ק-קא were scanned twice).
  19. http://www.otzar.org/wotzar/book.aspx?8066&lang=eng (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  20. http://www.otzar.org/wotzar/book.aspx?24835&lang=eng (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  21. http://www.otzar.org/wotzar/book.aspx?149875&lang=eng (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  22. http://www.otzar.org/wotzar/book.aspx?7871&lang=eng (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  23. Reprinted in Collected Papers Volume 3, pages 1183-1195 (available at http://www.otzar.org/wotzar/book.aspx?64129&lang=eng).
  24. Originally published with English translation by S. Atlas and M. Perlmann in Proceedings of the American Academy for Jewish Research, Vol. 14 (1944): Saadia on the Scroll of the Hasmonaeans.
  25. Printed at the end of Rabbi Kapach's edition of Daniel (listed above).
  26. http://www.otzar.org/wotzar/book.aspx?12163&lang=eng (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  27. http://www.otzar.org/wotzar/book.aspx?14197&lang=eng (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  28. http://www.otzar.org/wotzar/Book.aspx?154065&lang=eng (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  29. http://www.otzar.org/wotzar/book.aspx?149876&lang=eng (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  30. במבואו לספר כתב הרב יוסף קאפח: מחברנו ר' נתנאל כתב ספרו זה סביבות שנת דתתק"ז ליצירה.
  31. http://www.otzar.org/wotzar/book.aspx?149871&lang=eng (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  32. http://www.otzar.org/wotzar/book.aspx?10900&lang=eng (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  33. http://www.otzar.org/wotzar/book.aspx?149870&lang=eng (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  34. In Otzar HaHochma: סֵפֶר הַמַּדָּע (edition: רביעית תשס"א) (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  35. In Otzar HaHochma: ספר אַהֲבָה (edition: רביעית – תשס"ד) (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  36. In Otzar HaHochma: כרך ראשון של ספר זְמַנִּים (edition: רביעית – תשס"ד) (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  37. In Otzar HaHochma: כרך שני של ספר זְמַנִּים (edition: שלישית – תשס"ה) (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  38. In Otzar HaHochma: כרך שלישי של ספר זְמַנִּים (edition: שלישית – תשס"ה) (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  39. In Otzar HaHochma: כרך ראשון של ספר נָשִׁים (edition: רביעית – תשס"ו) (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  40. In Otzar HaHochma: כרך שני של ספר נָשִׁים (edition: שנייה מתוקנת – תשס"ב) (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  41. In Otzar HaHochma: כרך ראשון של ספר קְדוּשָּׁה (edition: ראשונה – התשמ"ט ליצירה, ב"ש לשטרות) (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  42. In Otzar HaHochma: כרך שני של ספר קְדוּשָּׁה (edition: שנייה – תשס"ו) (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  43. In Otzar HaHochma: כרך שלישי של ספר קְדוּשָּׁה (edition: שנייה – תשס"ו) (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  44. In Otzar HaHochma: ספר הַפלָאָה (edition: שנייה מעודכנת – תשס"ט) (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  45. In Otzar HaHochma: כרך ראשון של ספר זְרָעִים (edition: שנייה – תשס"ח) (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  46. In Otzar HaHochma: כרך שני של ספר זְרָעִים (edition: שנייה – תשס"ז) (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  47. In Otzar HaHochma: כרך ראשון של ספר עֲבוֹדָה (edition: שנייה – תשס"ט) (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  48. In Otzar HaHochma: כרך שני של ספר עֲבוֹדָה (edition: ראשונה – התשנ"ב ליצירה, בש"ג לשטרות) (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  49. In Otzar HaHochma: ספר הַקָּרבָּנוֹת (edition: ראשונה – התשנ"ב ליצירה, בש"ג לשטרות) (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  50. In Otzar HaHochma: כרך ראשון של ספר טָהֳרָה (edition: ראשונה – התשנ"ג ליצירה, בש"ד לשטרות) (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  51. In Otzar HaHochma: כרך שני של ספר טָהֳרָה (edition: רביעית – תשס"ו) (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  52. In Otzar HaHochma: ספר נְזִיקִין (edition: רביעית – תשס"ח) (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  53. In Otzar HaHochma: כרך ראשון של ספר קִניָן (edition: רביעית – תשס"ו) (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  54. In Otzar HaHochma: כרך שני של ספר קִניָן (edition: שלישית – תשס"ז) (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  55. In Otzar HaHochma: כרך ראשון של ספר מִשׁפָּטִים (edition: שלישית – תשס"ב) (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  56. In Otzar HaHochma: כרך שני של ספר מִשׁפָּטִים (edition: שלישית – תשס"ב) (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  57. In Otzar HaHochma: כרך ראשון של ספר שׁוֹפְטִים (edition: שלישית – תשס"ב) (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  58. In Otzar HaHochma: כרך שני של ספר שׁוֹפְטִים (edition: רביעית – תשס"ז) (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  59. http://www.otzar.org/wotzar/book.aspx?155273&lang=eng (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  60. http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=15473&st=&pgnum=5, http://www.chabad.org/news/article_cdo/aid/2175148/jewish/Maimonides-Seminal-Work-Receives-New-Translation.htm. The complete 613 mitzvot are available online at http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/940209/jewish/Sefer-Hamitzvot-Translation.htm. Volume One contains the Translator's Introduction, most of which can be freely accessed at http://www.barnesandnoble.com/sample/read/2940016592794. (Volume Two is available online at http://www.hebrewbooks.org/15473.)
  61. Volume 1: http://www.otzar.org/wotzar/book.aspx?158009&lang=eng. Volume 2: http://www.otzar.org/wotzar/book.aspx?158010&lang=eng. Volume 3: http://www.otzar.org/wotzar/book.aspx?158011&lang=eng. (First 40 pages viewable for free.)
  62. http://www.otzar.org/wotzar/book.aspx?155206&lang=eng (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  63. http://www.otzar.org/wotzar/book.aspx?155375&lang=eng (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  64. http://www.otzar.org/wotzar/book.aspx?155534&lang=eng (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  65. http://www.otzar.org/wotzar/book.aspx?154946&lang=eng (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  66. http://www.otzar.org/wotzar/book.aspx?103265&lang=eng (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  67. http://www.otzar.org/wotzar/Book.aspx?149865&lang=eng (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  68. http://www.otzar.org/wotzar/Book.aspx?149866&lang=eng (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  69. http://www.otzar.org/wotzar/Book.aspx?149867&lang=eng (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  70. http://www.otzar.org/wotzar/Book.aspx?149868&lang=eng (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  71. Volume 1: http://www.otzar.org/wotzar/book.aspx?149861&lang=eng. Volume 2: http://www.otzar.org/wotzar/book.aspx?149864&lang=eng. (First 40 pages viewable for free.)
  72. http://www.otzar.org/wotzar/book.aspx?149874&lang=eng (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  73. http://www.otzar.org/wotzar/Book.aspx?16982&lang=eng (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  74. המאסף שנה ה' חוב' 6, תמוז תשמ"ג, pages 559-564.
  75. קול סיני, volume 3, תמוז התשכ"ד, page 271.
  76. http://www.otzar.org/wotzar/Book.aspx?16983&lang=eng (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  77. ברקאי קובץ א' (קיץ תשמ"ג), עמ' 101-130.
  78. 'קורות ישראל בתימן' לרבי חיים חבשוש (Hebrew) in Sefunot, volume 2 (Jerusalem 1958), pages רמו-רפו (p. 254-294 in PDF).
  79. ספר "דופי הזמן" לרבי סעיד צעדי. קורות יהודי תימן בשנות תע"ז – תפ"ו (Hebrew) in Sefunot, volume 1 (Jerusalem 1956), pages קפה-רמב (p. 204-263 in PDF).
  80. מצוקות תימן (Hebrew) in Sefunot, volume 5 (Jerusalem 1961), pages שצז-תיג (p. 405-421 in PDF).
  81. Originally published circa 1967 in מחניים קי, pages פב-פח.
  82. Originally published circa 1965 in מחניים צה?[צב], pages קל-קלג.
  83. Originally published circa 1966 in מחניים קו, pages קנב-קנז.
  84. Originally published circa 1965 in מחניים צח, pages 68-71.
  85. פעמים 11, תשמ"ב, pages 89-93.
  86. http://www.otzar.org/wotzar/Book.aspx?64129&lang=eng (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  87. Tehuda, issue no. 14 (1994), pages 67-73. (Compare with Collected Papers, volume 3, pages 1399-1406.)
  88. http://www.otzar.org/wotzar/Book.aspx?158976&lang=eng (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  89. לַמּוֹעֵד, שבועות ג, קובץ ז' (ירושלים תש"ז), pages 41-42.
  90. Hebrew: מהדורה שניה
  91. Specifically, "הוצאה שלישית מתוקנת"
  92. Pages 3-31 (of approximately 371 total) online: http://www.chayas.com/shabbothHC.pdf (p. 3-9), http://www.chayas.com/roshhashan.pdf (p. 10-12), http://www.chayas.com/kippur.pdf (p. 13-14), http://www.chayas.com/gafpesahpdf.pdf (p. 14-29), http://www.chayas.com/gavshav.pdf (p. 28-31).
  93. Albeit with new errors.
  94. Listed above.
  95. Hebrew: מָסורה ליוסף. (The first few volumes were vowelized מְסורה ליוסף, but this was corrected in subsequent volumes.)
  96. Paper that Rabbi Yosef Kapach edited, for the purposes of a radio broadcast (1949), about Rabbi Yichyei Kapach.
  97. Written for the various speakers. Familial identifying information was censored from Masorah L'Yosef (page 136).
  98. http://www.otzar.org/wotzar/Book.aspx?64190&lang=eng (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  99. http://www.otzar.org/wotzar/Book.aspx?172100&lang=eng (first 40 pages viewable for free)
  100. http://www.otzar.org/wotzar/Book.aspx?180041&lang=eng (first 40 pages viewable for free)

Further reading

External links