Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu
Rishon LeZion, Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel

Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu was a legend in his time. As the Rishon LeZion, the Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel, from 1983-1993 (5743-5753), he was the address to whom throngs turned for halachic guidance and questions in Torah learning, as well as for advice, comfort, and blessings. Yet the more layers of this great Torah sage that were revealed to the public, the more people realized how many additional layers there still were to him.

Written by a loving son, A Legend of Humility and Leadership relates some of the astounding stories told about Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu. These stories uncover the breadth of Rabbi Eliyahu’s astonishing grasp of Torah, both revealed and hidden; his uncompromising stance on Jewish law; and the lengths to which he was prepared to go to avoid sin. Still other amazing anecdotes describe the wonders and miracles that happened in the merit of this holy man, the greatness of whom we shall never truly know.

But perhaps more than anything, the stories in this book show this Torah sage’s humility and his humanity. Rabbi Eliyahu was a man who loved his fellow man as himself. And, even more so, he consistently disregarded his personal honor so that he could do the right thing for every person who asked for his assistance — and even for those who did not ask.

Packed with inspiration and many important Torah lessons, this is a book that will become a fast favorite among both Sephardim and Ashkenazim. Glimpse the great persona that was Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu, and your perception of a true Torah scholar will be immeasurably enhanced.

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The Sephardic Legacy Series Institute was founded in 2007 by Yehuda Azoulay for the purpose of educating and inspiring Sephardic Jews through knowledge about their heritage. One of the Institute’s current points of focus is the lives and legacies of leading Sephardic sages. The Institute has already published several volumes of extensively-researched biographies, documenting the history and teachings of the spiritual pillars of Sephardic Jewry, preserving this crucial aspect of Sephardic history and allowing contemporary Jews to draw inspiration from these extraordinary figures.

By Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu and Yehuda Azoulay