Rav Masoud Chai Rokeach

Rav Masoud Chai Roke’ach was the son of Rav Aharon. He was born in Izmir, Turkey, about 5450/1690. Rav Masoud moved to Eretz Yisrael, where he was known as one of Yerushalayim’s Torah giants. He corresponded in halocha with Rabbonim in Italy and Izmir. Sent to Libya to raise funds for the community in Yerushalayim around 5500/1740, Rav Masoud was asked to stay on and serve there as Rav. During the time he spent there, Rav Masoud helped the local kehilla grow in Torah and mitzvos. Later, Rav Masoud settled in Livorno, Italy, where he sat on the Bais Din with Rav Yaakov Lusinah and Rav Yitzchok Inrikis. Rav Masoud was niftar on the tenth of Av 5528/1768, in Tripoli, Libya.