A Giant Among Sephardic Gedolim: Mourning Maran HaGaon HaRav Meir Mazuz, zt”l

Baruch Dayan HaEmes. Klal Yisrael mourns the petirah of Maran HaGaon HaRav Meir Nissim Mazuz, zt”l—Rosh Yeshivas Kissei Rachamim, a posek, manhig Yisrael, and one of the most distinguished Sephardic gedolim of our time. His passing on Shvi’i shel Pesach, 5785, at the age of 80, marks the close of a glorious chapter in Torah leadership, leaving a profound void felt deeply across the Torah world.

 

A Life Forged in Fire and Rebuilt in Torah

Born in Djerba, Tunisia, in 1945, Rav Meir was the eldest son of Rav Matsliach Mazuz, Hy”d, a prominent dayan and rosh yeshivah who was brutally assassinated in 1971 in a shocking act of violence that shook the Tunisian Jewish community. As recounted by journalist Aryeh Ehrlich in Mishpacha Magazine (“Beating the Gun,” Issue 742), Rav Meir later described the attack and its aftermath in a personal journal, capturing not only the searing pain of loss but also the spiritual fortitude that followed.

Despite the trauma, Rav Meir rose with tremendous strength and resolve. He led the relocation of his father’s vast personal library to Eretz Yisrael, viewing the mission as not just practical, but sacred—preserving the Torah heritage of Tunisian Jewry for future generations. With extraordinary vision, he reestablished Yeshivat Kissei Rachamim in Bnei Brak, building it into a powerhouse of Sephardic scholarship and a torchbearer for his father’s mesorah.

 

Upholding the Crown of Sephardic Torah

Under Rav Meir’s leadership, the yeshivah became more than a place of learning—it became a spiritual anchor for Sephardic talmidim across Eretz Yisrael and beyond. He taught with passion and clarity, combining deep halachic knowledge with a fierce devotion to tradition. He insisted on the preservation of Sephardic pronunciation in tefillah and krias haTorah, warning against the subtle erosion of lashon haKodesh. This was not simply linguistic preference—it was a sacred mission to preserve the kedushah inherent in Sephardic liturgy.

In halachah, Rav Mazuz was methodical and nuanced. When navigating between diaspora minhagim and the rulings of Maran in Eretz Yisrael, he emphasized balance: If Maran was stricter, or if there was a risk of brachah l’vatalah, one should follow Maran. If the older minhag was unnecessarily stringent or led to inconsistency, he guided with hesech hadaas and leniency. Otherwise, he urged preserving the traditions passed down through generations.

 

A Torah Voice of Principle and Precision

Rav Mazuz delivered thoughtful rulings on contemporary challenges, always grounded in traditional halachic sources. Some of his more widely discussed psakim include:

On Techeiles: While personally wearing techeiles on Shabbos, he advised against daily use, out of deference to past generations who lacked clarity on its authenticity.

On Women in Combat: He unequivocally opposed drafting women into IDF combat roles, emphasizing that the Torah designates women as the spiritual and emotional foundation of the home.

On Military Orders vs. Halachah: He cautioned soldiers to weigh orders against moral and halachic standards, drawing lessons from history about the dangers of blind obedience.

On Proper Pronunciation: He passionately advocated for precise dikduk in tefillah, encouraging baalei tefillah and chazzanim to maintain clarity and reverence.

 

Pull Quote

“Rav Mazuz didn’t just teach Torah—he taught how to carry the mesorah with pride, precision, and ahavas ha’emes.”

 

A Gadol Revered From Bnei Brak to Queens

His influence was not confined to Eretz Yisrael. In Queens and throughout the New York area—particularly within the Sephardic and Bukharian kehillos—his sefarim are learned regularly, and his rulings are referenced in shiurim and batei din. Rabbanim in Rego Park, Forest Hills, and Kew Gardens Hills viewed Rav Mazuz as the posek hador for their communities.

Even Ashkenazic roshei yeshivah and rabbanim in Flatbush, Lakewood, and Monsey admired his brilliance, often citing his writings with reverence.

 

Torah for the Ages

Rav Mazuz authored a rich treasury of Torah works, many of which are studied across Sephardic and Ashkenazic circles alike:

Ish Matzliach – Comprehensive teshuvos on all four sections of Shulchan Aruch.

Makor Ne’eman – Halachic responsa reflecting sharp analysis and contemporary relevance.

Haggadah Hashem Nisi – Commentary on the Haggadah, Shir HaShirim, and hilchos Pesach.

Darkei HaIyun – Essays reflecting the unique Tunisian approach to deep Talmudic learning.

Magen U’Tzinah – Notes on the Maharsha’s insights in Gemara.

Kuntress HaMaarachot – Guidelines and frameworks for proper psak halachah.

Matzliach Yeshuah – Innovative commentary on sugyos in Shas and halachic principles.

These works serve as lasting monuments to his clarity, rigor, and ahavas haTorah.

 

A Chassidic Connection in His Roots

As detailed in Ehrlich’s Mishpacha profile, Rav Mazuz had strong ties to the Chabad movement in his youth. He learned in Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim in Tunisia and began teaching there at age 17, under the guidance of Rav Nissan Pinson, the Rebbe’s shaliach. He maintained admiration for the Rebbe’s global influence and even encouraged the learning of Tanya, stating that he completed it three times.

 

A Silent Farewell, a Thunderous Message

In accordance with his tzava’ah, Rav Mazuz’s levayah was held without hespeidim, yet the kavod haTorah rang loudly through the streets of Bnei Brak. Thousands came to accompany the aron of a giant—roshei yeshivah, talmidim, and countless Yidden who had benefited from his guidance and Torah.

Shortly after his petirah, a newborn was named Meir Nissim in his memory—testament to the enduring light he brought to Klal Yisrael.

 

Mourning Across Generations and Continents

While formal tributes from American Torah leaders are still emerging, many Israeli figures paid immediate tribute:

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu: “One of the greatest Torah sages of our time.”

Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir: “His blessings, his wisdom, and his love for the Jewish People are unforgettable.”

Former Minister Eli Yishai, his devoted talmid: “A pillar of fire has left us… we must carry his light.”

Rav Mazuz leaves behind a towering legacy of Torah, humility, and mesorah. In the face of adversity, he rebuilt. In a time of uncertainty, he clarified. And in a generation of spiritual noise, he taught us how to speak—and live—with the language of truth.

Yehi zichro baruch.

By Shabsie Saphirstein