REGGIO, ABRAHAM BEN EZRIEL

REGGIO, ABRAHAM BEN EZRIEL (1755–1846), Italian rabbi and kabbalist. Born in Ferrara, Reggio was a pupil of isaac lampronti and his son Solomon. He went to Gorizia where he studied under Moses Ḥefeẓ (Gentili), the local rabbi, and taught in the talmud torah. After the death of his teacher, Reggio was appointed to succeed him as rabbi of the town (c. 1796), and he held this office until his death. Reggio was considered an important posek in his time. Leading scholars of that period, including Mordecai baneth , addressed halakhic problems to him. His only published work is Tiglaḥat ha-Ma'amar (Leghorn, 1844), a reply to the pamphlet Ma'amar ha-Tiglaḥat (Vienna, 1835) by his son, isacco samuel reggio , on the permission to shave during the intermediate days of a festival. His most important works, Eshel Avraham, on general principles and themes in the Bible, Mishnah, Talmud, prayer book and Kabbalah; Mazkeret ha-Limmud, novellae; and Mashal u-Meliẓah, letters, poems, and elegies, remain in manuscript. -BIBLIOGRAPHY: Benjacob, Oẓar, 55 no. 1041; Fuenn, Keneset, 63–64. (Abraham David)