A renowned posek and educator whose influence on Iraqi Jewry lasted for generations. Rav Ovadia Avraham Yosef Somech was born תקע"ג in Baghdad. His family is meyuchas to Rav Nissim Gaon Rosh Yeshivas Kharun (Haggadah Shel Pesach Zivchei Tzedek).
He studied under Rav Yaakov Bar Yosef Harofeh, one of the gedolei dayanim of Iraq. Chacham Yaakov Bar Yosef Harofeh writes in his own sefer, Chelek Yaakov (parshas Noach), that “Rav Abdallah Somekh is a my learned and understood talmid muvhak.”
He married his cousin Sarah, the daughter of his uncle Yitzchok. Originally, he made a living as a merchant, however when in his twenties he witnessed first-hand the decline of Iraqi Jewry, he changed course. He began training young rabbonim to take on leadership positions and strengthen Iraqi Jewry to secure its future.
He gathered ten avrechim and taught them with no personal expectation for remuneration. Philanthropist, Yechezkel ben Reuven Menashe, supported the new venture kollel and in the year ת"ר he opened a formal beis medrash to train rabbonim. The institution was named Medrash Abu Menashe and it supported the rabbinical academy and her student body.
Rav Abdallah also moved all the students and disciples from Medrash Talmud Torah where the poor and orphans studied over to the new beis medrash and the gvir, Yechezkel, supported them and their families as well. Eventually, the Beis Medrash grew until it was renamed, Medrash Bais Zalka. Rav Somekh stood at the head as rosh yeshiva until his passing.
See also: Oros M’Mizrach by Aharon Sorski p. 71
Rav Samekh passed away on Chai Elul תרמ"ט on motzei Shabbos. One of the greatest Iraqi gedolim of the last generations. Born in the city of Baghdad in 1813, he was a talmid of Rav Yaakov Rofeh. In 1840 together with philanthropist Yechezkel Reuven ben Menashe he founded the first yeshivah Midrash Abu Menashi. In 1854 they reopened a large shul and a new bais medrash Midrash Beit Zlicha, many great tzadikim learned there in Bavel such as Rav Eliyahu Mani of Chevron, Rav Yaakov Chaim Sofer author Kaf haChaim and the Ben Ish Chai. Rav Yitzchok Kaduri studied there later under the Ben Ish Chai as well.
He passed away on a erev Shabbos, 18 Chai Elul 5649 (1889). He authored the sefer Zivchei Tzedek on Shulchan Aruch.
