Raphael Laniado

An Aleppo-born rabbi, Raphael Solomon ben Samuel Laniado came from a prominent Sephardic family of scholars and judges; he compiled a family history to stress the eminence of his lineage. Laniado served as chief rabbi of Aleppo from 1740 until his death and was known for his firm and uncompromising stance toward Sephardic tradition. For example, in the 1760s, he attempted to impose his authority and community customs on the “Francos,” a group of Jewish merchants originally from France and Italy who had neither paid taxes to nor recognized the authority of the Aleppo Jewish community. He defends here the local custom of chief rabbi serving as lone judge rather than the traditional three-member rabbinic court. His opponent, Rabbi Judah Kassin, defended the Francos, and the controversy lasted for a number of years.