Chaim Joseph David Azulai

Chaim Joseph David Azulai (acronym Chida, * 1724 in Jerusalem, † March 1, 1806, according to other sources: March 21, 1807 in Livorno), great-grandson of Abraham Azulai, was Jewish scholar, Dezisor, Kabbalist and bibliographer.

He had extensive knowledge of the entire rabbinic literature and enjoyed in the Palestinian Jewish community a very high reputation, so it several times as their emissary ( " Meschullach " ) in Europe perceived diplomatic missions.

As a result, he often stayed in Italy, France, Germany and Holland and was in touch with the leading rabbinic authorities of his time. Wherever he went, he took the opportunity to sift Hebrew printed works and manuscripts and to collect and wrote as a result the literary-historical lexicon hagedolim Shem ( " name of the great ," from 1774 to 1786, bio - bibliographical dictionary, treated more than 1,300 Jewish scholars ), which became a well-used reference book. Besides created numerous exegetical and homiletic works.

About his travels and adventures he led diaries, which were published in part later.

Literature (selection )

• Article ASULAJ, Chaim Joseph David, in: Jewish Encyclopedia, Berlin 1927, Vol I, Sp 550
• Benjamin Cymerman, The Diaries of Rabbi Yosef David Ha'im Azulai, Jerusalem 1997