ḤALFON (Khalfon), ABRAHAM

HALFON (Khalfon), ABRAHAM (late 18th century), rabbi in tripoli . Information about Ḥalfon is limited to the fact that his book, Ḥayyei Avraham (Leghorn, 1826), was published posthumously by his son Raḥamim. The haskamot (recommendations) for the book were written by two emissaries from Tiberias, Joseph ibn Samon and Samuel Shoshanah, indicating Ḥalfon's ties to that town. The book contains traditional explanations of the commandments in the Shulḥan Arukh (Oraḥ Ḥayyim and Yoreh De'ah). The explanations, based on the Talmud, the Zohar, Ketem Paz (a commentary on the Zohar), Sefer Ḥasidim, and Penei David by Ḥyyim Joseph David Azulai , are lucidly and attractively presented and avoid wearying casuistry. The book was published in several succeeding editions: 1844, 1857, 1861. Several other works by him, halakhic and homiletical, are still in manuscript.