Nathan HaKohen Sholal

Nathan Sholal HaKohen was born in Tlemcen, Algeria to a family of Talmud scholars. He emigrated to Italy and from there to Ereẓ Israel, settling in Jerusalem before 1471. After 1481 he went to Egypt because of heavy taxation and the high-handed attitude of the elders who oppressed the Jewish community in Jerusalem. By 1484 he was appointed nagid, a leader of Jewish community, and held the post until his death. He owned property which he had acquired through trade.