Rav Chisdai HaKohen Perachya was the son of Rav Shmuel. He was born in approximately the year 5365/1605.
He was a talmid of Rav Chaim Shabsi, mechaber of She’eilos U’Teshuvos Maharchash. Rav Chisdai was one of the leading Rabbonim of Salonika. A posek, he wrote chiddushim on Choshen Mishpot and She’eilos U’Teshuvos Toras Chessed (the word chessed is a play on his name, Chisdai) as well as on some masechtos of Shas. Other works of Rav Chisdai were never published.
Among his well-known talmidim were Rav Aharon HaKohen Perachya, author Perach Mateh Aharon and Rav Yaakov Di Bitton, author Eidus BeYaakov.
The Chidah writes that he has a tradition that the Toras Chessed's last name comes from those Kohanim who have family names that are descendants of Pinchos and therefore there last names form the acronym Pinchos: Perachai, Nahar, Chimtzi, Sahal. (Shem HaGedolim Maarekhes Sefarim Letter Tav 44)
After the petira of Rav Menachem Shulam in 5431/1671, Rav Chisdai was appointed Chief Rav of Salonika, (then Turkey, now Greece) a position he held until his petira on the seventh of (others says 8) Elul 5438/1678.
Zecher tzaddik livrachah.
