Gedaliah ben Moses Cordovero

Gedaliah ben Moses Cordovero was born and educated in Safed, Israel. Around 1584 he was in Italy where he engaged in the book trade. He also ventured into publishing, and in Venice he published several kabbalistic works of the Safed scholars, including his father’s “Perush Seder Avodat Yom ha-Kippurim” and “Or Ne’erav”.

During his stay in Italy, Gedaliah was also active as a preacher, expounding the imminent redemption. After 1590, Gedaliah went to Jerusalem 1590 and was appointed chief rabbi of Jerusalem by the authorities, holding the title Sheikh al-Yahūd (“Chief of the Jews”) until his death.