Forti (Heb. Hazak), Jacob Raphael Hezekiah ben Abraham Israel

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FORTI, JACOB RAPHAEL HEZEKIAH BEN ABRAHAM ISRAEL

FORTI (Heb. Hazak ), JACOB RAPHAEL HEZEKIAH BEN ABRAHAM ISRAEL (1689–1782), Italian kabbalist. Forti studied under Mordecai *Bassani in Verona and later under Moses Ḥayyim *Luzzatto in Padua. He became chief rabbi of Padua, and Shabbetai Medini and Ariel Alatino were among his pupils. His glosses to the four Turim of *Jacob b. Asher and commentary to the Shulḥan Arukh as well as a methodology of the Talmud and the posekim and a collection of sermons survived in manuscript form. Some of his many responsa were published in the works of others. The records of his halakhic dispute with the rabbis of Venice regarding the business methods of its merchants are brought together in the Mishpat Shalom (in manuscript) of Isaac b. Asher Pacifico. Forti died in Padua.

bibliography:

Ghirondi-Neppi, 148, 150.

[Samuel Abba Horodezky]