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Ouziel, Rav Ben-Zion Meir Hai (1880-1953)
Chief Sephardi Rabbi of Israel
His Life
Born in Jerusalem, Ben-Zion Ouziel was the son of Rav Yosef Raphael Ouziel,
who was president of the Sephardi community's rabbinical court. At age 20,
Rav Ben-Zion Ouziel became a yeshiva teacher. In 1911, he became a leader
of the Sephardi community in Jaffa, working to raise the status of oriental
Jews there. Because of his activity on behalf of persecuted Jews with the
Turkish government, he was exiled to Damascus during World War I, but was
permitted to return before the arrival of the British army.
In 1921, he was appointed chief rabbi of Salonika for three years, and
returned to become chief rabbi of Tel Aviv in 1923. He became chief rabbi
of Israel in 1939.
His Accomplishments
A leader of the Jerusalem-born Sephardi community and contemporary of Ashkenazi
chief rabbi of Jaffa, Rav Avraham Yitzhak Kook, Rav Ouziel worked unceasingly
to raise the status and educational level of Sephardi Jews, while also bringing
about better relations with the Ashkenazi community. His motto was "Love,
truth and peace" (Zechariah 8:19).
When he became the [italics] Rishon Le-Zion or Sephardi Chief Rabbi
in 1939, he also became a member of the temporary committee of Jews in
Eretz Yisrael, the Va'ad Leumi [National Council] and was present at the
meeting which founded the Jewish Agency for Israel. During the British
Mandate, he was frequently called upon to represent the Jewish community,
impressing even the staunchest critics with his bearing and dignity.
He helped establish two yeshivot: Mahazikei Torah early in his career
and Sha'ar Zion later. He wrote extensively for various newspapers and
periodicals on religious, community and national topics, as well as Jewish
philosophy.
Two days before his death he dictated his last testament: "I have kept
in the forefront of my thoughts . . . to disseminate Torah among students,
to love the Torah . . . [and] Eretz Yisrael. I have emphasized love for
every man and woman of Israel and for the Jewish people as a whole, love
for the Lord God of Israel, the bringing of peace between every man and
woman of Israel . . . to bring genuine peace into the home of the Jews,
into the whole assembly of Israel . . . and between Israel and its Father
in Heaven." He died in 1953.
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