מלאכי הכהן

Rav Malachi ben Yaakov HaKohen (5460/1700–21 Cheshvan 5532/1771), known for all generations by the name of his sefer as the Yad Malachi, was among the greatest rabbanim of Livorno (Leghorn) and is counted the last of the great rabbanim of Italy. Born in Livorno to Rav Yaakov HaKohen, he learned under the chachamim of the city, among them the posek and mekubal Rav Avraham Chaim Rodrigues, author of Orach LaTzaddik; his rebbe muvhak was the mekubal Rav Yosef Ergas, author of Shomer Emunim, from whom he learned Talmud, halachah, and kabbalah. On his rebbe’s petirah the writings were placed in Rav Malachi’s hands, and it was he who brought them to print — the Shomer Emunim, Mevo Petachim, and the responsa Divrei Yosef.

His name stands on the Yad Malachi, printed in Livorno in his own lifetime (5527/1766), an encyclopedic sefer of klalei haTalmud in three parts: an alphabetical treasury of the rules and terms of the Talmud with their explanations, the rules governing the poskim, and the rules of halachic decision. It became one of the foundation stones of the klalim literature, cited in all that came after it; the Chida wrote of it with wonder, and it is learned to this day — the Machon Yerushalayim edition (5776/2016) added a third volume with his commentary on the Torah, his teshuvot and piskei din, and his piyutim.

As one of the rabbanim of Livorno his haskamah appears on many sefarim printed in the city, and he signed the letter of the Livorno rabbanut on behalf of Rav Yonatan Eybeschutz in the machloket of that generation. A master of the sofer’s craft, he wrote a Sefer Torah in his own hand that later served as a model for the correct formation of the letters. After an earthquake struck Livorno he composed Shivchei Todah, tefillot for the fast of 22 Shevat that the kehillah took upon itself, and he wrote kinot on his rebbe Rav Yosef Ergas and on Rav Chaim ben Attar. Known is his exchange with Rav Yitzchak Lampronti, author of the Pachad Yitzchak, over the berachah on chocolate: Rav Malachi and his teacher Rav Rodrigues held borei pri ha’etz, and the conclusion in practice was shehakol.

He was niftar on 21 Cheshvan 5532/1771 and rests in Livorno. Generations later, when the Chida’s kever was opened to bring him up to Yerushalayim, the diggers touched the grave beside it — and found it to be that of Rav Malachi HaKohen.