Born around 1760 in Damascus
He defended Akko from Napoleon in 1799 תקנ''ט, playing a key role in the city’s successful defense against the French siege.
However, the evil Pasha and ruler of Akko (Ahmad Pasha al-Jazzar, the Ottoman governor of Sidon from 1776 until his death in 1804) paid him back, not with praise, but with anger, and blinded him in one eye and cut off the tip of his nose; this was his reward to a loyal subject!
After Ahmad’s death, Suleiman became the Pasha and ruler, and he asked Rav Chaim to once again serve as his chief advisor. After Suleiman’s death, his son Abdallah came to power.
Other accounts say that Rav Haim Farhi had a distinguished Mahomedan friend who died suddenly along with his wife, and they left a very young child called Abdalla. This orphan was without any protectors, and was therefore raised and educated in the home of Haim Farhi.
After Sulieman died, Haim Farhi had Abdalla appointed as Pasha of Akko. Initially, Abdallah viewed Farhi like a father figure and followed his guidance. But as early as one year after assuming the governmental position, the young ruler commenced to act counter to Rav Farhi’s advice and instruction. As Abdallah met with his Rav Farhi’s occasional reproval, he began to view his former guardian as an obstacle to his own agenda and pleasure. He disdained the rav’s interference and preferred to exercise his own will, unchecked. Abdallah thus resolved to get rid of him. He falsely accused the rav of treason and other charges and sent thugs to attack him.
Confidants of Farhi revealed to him the heinous plan of his ungrateful ward and advised the rav to save himself by fleeing. He declined doing so, arguing that his escape might provoke greater persecution of the Jews in Palestine, as the Pasha, Abdllah, could wreak his fury on them in his absence. He was prepared to bear patiently whatever might occur in order to save, even to some degree, his own people.
On the 29th of Av, 5579, a fast day (erev Rosh Chodesh Elul), an officer along with soldiers, suddenly entered the rav’s apartment. Rav Farhi’s death-warrant was read to him in which he was condemned on account of treason. His sentence was instantly carried out, and he was hung.
The day following all his belongings were plundered, the body of this martyr he did not even permit to be buried, but ordered it to be cast into the sea.
On 29 Av, Erev Rosh Chodesh Elul he was brutally murdered and executed.
