Rabbi Yakov Beirav
Other Names: Jacob Berab, Rabbi Yackov Marmech, Marhari Birav
Rabbi Yackov Beirav was born in Castile, Spain in 1475 and studied under Rabbi Yitzchak Abuhav. He was 18 years old at the time of the Jewish expulsion. Upon leaving Spain he traveled to Fes, Morocco where he served as a rabbi. From there he moved to Cairo and was appointed as a Dayan in the Beis Din of the Ridbaz, Rebbe Dovid ben Zimra, eventually moving to Safed and serving as its head Rabbi. Rabbi Yakov Beirav tried to reinitiate the Smicha and transferred it to his four main students which included the Beis Yosef and the Ramak.
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Youth
His father was Moshe Marmach, later Rabbi Yackov was given the name Berav to show his greatness in Torah study.
The Smicha
Moved from Egypt to Tzfat and was considered the teacher of Rabbi Yosef Karo. In Tzfat he made an attempt to re-establish the Smicha. A renewed Simcha would allow for the creation of an official Sanhedrin, which in turn could Halachacly give Malkes. This would create the opportunity for the many Marranos to erase the sins of their former lives that deserved Kares.
Initial Smicha ceremony took place in the Yossi Banaah Synagogue.
Kever Rabbi Yakov Beirav
Rabbi Yakov Beirav is buried in the old Tzfas cemetery in the Cave of the Elders of Tzfat, along with Rabbi Moshe Alshich.
Hillulah of Rabbi Yakov Beirav
Hillulah of Rabbi Yakov Beirav is on the 1st of Iyyar (Rosh Chodesh).
- Kever Rabbi Yakov Beirav Gallery
