MANI

MANI, family in Iraq and Ereẓ Israel. According to family tradition, the family is of Davidic origin and its name is an acrostic of Mi-Geza Neẓer Yishai. ELIJAH BEN SULEIMAN (1818–1899), one of the best-known Iraqi rabbis, was born in Baghdad, where he studied at the Beit Zilka rabbinical academy and was one of the outstanding pupils of R. abdallah somekh . In 1856 he settled in Ereẓ Israel, first in Jerusalem, but two years later he moved to Hebron. He played a prominent role in the development of the Jewish community there. In 1865 he was appointed chief rabbi of Hebron and retained this post until his death. By nature an unassuming and generous man, he was outspoken and adamant in matters of religious observance. He made several journeys on behalf of the Hebron community: to India in 1873; Egypt, 1872 and 1878; and Baghdad 1880. In 1879–80 a fierce argument broke out between R. Elijah and two prominent members of the community, Mercado Romano and R. Raḥamim Joseph Franco, which split the community into two factions. In the end R. Elijah's views prevailed. R. Elijah wrote several books dealing with traditional and mystical Jewish studies. Of these, the following were published: Zikhronot Eliyahu, a collection of religious precepts, arranged in alphabetical order, of which two parts appeared (Jerusalem, 1936, 1938); and Karnot Ẓaddik (Baghdad, 1867). Many of his responsa were published in the Jerusalem Me'assef and in the writings of contemporary rabbinic scholars. (Abraham Ben-Yaacob) SULEIMAN MENAHEM (1850–1924), Elijah's eldest son, was appointed rosh av bet din in Hebron when his father died. After the death of Ḥayyim hezekiah medini , he was elected chief rabbi of Hebron. ISRAEL (1887–1966), the son of SHALOM EZEKIEL, Elijah's second son, studied law in Paris. During the British Mandate he was appointed magistrate (1927) and district judge in Jaffa (1932). In 1936 he became the first Jewish judge in the newly established Tel Aviv district court. ISAAC MALCHIEL (1860–1933), Elijah's fourth son, became a district judge in Hebron. He was an enthusiastic supporter of herzl . In 1901 he moved to Jerusalem to practice law. From 1926 to 1929 he was district judge in Jaffa. His sons-in-law were daniel auster and giulio racah . ELIJAH MOSES (1907– ), great-grandson of Elijah, during the Mandatory regime served as a lecturer in the Jerusalem law school. In 1948 he was appointed judge in the district court of Jerusalem, and from 1962 he served as a justice of the Supreme Court of Israel. His brother ABRAHAM (1922– ) was professor of physics at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. MAZAL (Mathilda) mosseri was the daughter of Isaac Malchiel. -BIBLIOGRAPHY: M. Mani, Rabbi Eliyahu Mani (1936); A. Ben-Yacov, in: Ḥemdat Yisrael … le-Zekher Rabbi Ḥ. Ḥ. Medini (1946), 89–97; O. Avisar (ed.), Sefer Ḥevron (1970), 100–7, 132–4, 153–4.