Rabbi Meir Mazuz, Leader Of Tunisian Jewry, Passes Away At Age 80

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — BDE: With deep sorrow and grief, the Torah world mourns the passing of the Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Meir Nissim Mazuz, of blessed and saintly memory, the president of the “Kisei Rachamim” institutions and one of the leading figures of Tunisian Jewry.

In recent years, the Rosh Yeshiva’s health had steadily declined. Despite this, he consistently made a supreme effort and entered his study hall, even delivering Torah discourses to his students who eagerly drank in his teachings. In the last six months, he was hospitalized several times. During the past week, upon the advice of leading rabbis and kabbalists, the name “Raphael” was added to his name as a spiritual remedy for long life. On Saturday afternoon, during the Seventh Day of Pesach festival and the Sabbath, his pure soul ascended to the heavens.

Rabbi Mazuz was born on the 13th of Nissan 5705 (April 6, 1945) to his father, the righteous Rabbi Matzliach Mazuz (may Hashem avenge his blood), a dayan and leader of Tunisian Jewry, and his righteous mother, Mrs. Kamsana Mazuz. He studied at the “Chevrat HaTalmud” Yeshiva under Rabbi Yitzchak Bouchnick and Rabbi Yosef Soussou HaKohen, and later at “Ohel Yosef Yitzchak,” a Chabad Yeshiva in Tunis.

He married and built a home rooted in Torah and Yirat Shamayim in Tunis. After the tragic assassination of his father by a Muslim terrorist in 1971, he and his brothers, Rabbis Tzemach and Rachamim, immigrated to Israel. That same year, they established the “Kisei Rachamim” yeshiva in Bnei Brak, which grew to include kindergartens, Talmud Torahs, schools, seminaries, and branches in Jerusalem, Elad, Emanuel, Bat Yam, Akko, and more.

They also founded “Machon HaRav Matzliach,” which published prayer books and religious texts based on Rabbi Mazuz’s linguistic and traditional methodology.

A cornerstone of his life’s work was promoting the Tunisian method of Talmud study, which he elaborated upon in his series of pamphlets on “Darkei HaIyun.” He strongly emphasized precise Sephardic pronunciation in prayer and Torah reading, adhering to traditional grammar rules. He often sided with the view of Rabbi Shaul HaKohen (18th century rabbi of Djerba, Tunisia) that prayer texts should reflect Biblical Hebrew grammar.

For example, he ruled that people should say Borei Peri Hagofen (as in the Ashkenazi pronunciation) and not Hagefen as the Sefardim say, and also ruled that people should say Mituvecha (Ashkenazi pronunciation) and not Mituvach like the Sephardic siddurim’s version.

Rabbi Mazuz promoted knowledge of the Bible, often using it to demonstrate grammatical and stylistic points and to interpret liturgical poetry. In his youth, he authored a commentary on Rabbi Yehuda HaLevi’s piyut “Mi Kamocha,” complete with grammar notes and scriptural sources (without using a concordance).

Rabbi Mazuz maintained a nuanced stance regarding Diaspora customs in Israel. Unlike Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, who argued for full adoption of the Beit Yosef’s rulings, or Rabbi Shalom Mashash, who advocated preserving Diaspora traditions, Rabbi Mazuz promoted a balanced approach—adopting stringencies of local custom when appropriate (such as reciting Hallel on Rosh Chodesh without a Bracha as ruled by the Beit Yosef)  but preserving Diaspora traditions when they were not overly burdensome or led to leniency.

He led the “Mishpat Tzedek” rabbinical court and ruled on a wide range of halachic topics. His responsa were collected in works like “Makor Ne’eman.” He was strict on issues of Sabbath observance and famously rejected Rabbeinu Tam’s opinion on the end of Shabbat in Israel, though he stressed that the custom to be stringent is praiseworthy.

Rabbi Mazuz’s political involvement began in 1993 with the founding of the municipal “Hen” party in Bnei Brak, which split from Shas. He participated in right-wing protests during the Gush Katif disengagement and declared Ariel Sharon’s stroke a divine punishment for it.

At the outset of coronavirus, Rabbi Mazuz said that it would not reach Israel because “we are stringent on washing hands and on other Mitzvot”. This view was based on the historical fact that many plagues did not effect Jews in Europe due to their superior hygiene. When coronavirus broke out in Israel, Rabbi Mazuz blamed it on the LGBTQ pride parades.

In 2022 he blamed Interior Minister Amir Ohana for the Meron tragedy, due to his being “tainted by disease” ( a reference to his LGBTQ status). After he was criticized for his statement, he stressed that “The Torah forbade this, what do you want from me?”

Rabbi Mazuz left behind righteous children and grandchildren, many of whom are Torah scholars, and thousands of students. Prominent disciples include Rabbi Yigal Cohen, public figures like Eli Yishai, Haim Amsalem, and Shlomo Karhi.

He authored many works, including:

• Responsa: Bayit Ne’eman and Makor Ne’eman
• Biblical Commentary: Bayit Ne’eman on the Chumash and Emet Kaneh on Psalms
• Talmudic Chiddushim: Commentaries on tractates like Yevamot, Gittin, Berachot, Pesachim, Kiddushin, and more
• Language & Grammar: Asaf HaMazkir (rules in Talmud and Halacha),
• Philosophy & Ethics: Kovetz Maamarim, Sho’el u’Meishiv (teaching how to write responsa)
• Holidays: He’eh Nesai on Pesach, Sansan LeYair on Purim, Solet Nekiya on sanctifying the new month
• Glosses on Onkelos’s translation- Le’Ukmei Girsa.
• The Roots and Traditions of Tunisian Jewry from the Gedolei Yisrael- a compendium of articles on the great men of Am Yisrael and their approaches to Halacha and Talmud study.
• Kisei Hamelech- Chiddushim on Rambam.

His passing occurred exactly 80 years after his birth on the 13th of Nissan 5705, evoking the statement by Chazal that  “G-d completes the years of the righteous.” May his memory be blessed.

The Levaya will take place at 1 PM on Sunday from the Kisei Rachamim institutions in Bnei Brak.