Shimon Lavi was a Sephardi Hakham, kabbalist, physician, astronomer, and poet.
14 Facts About Shimon Lavi
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Shimon Lavi is credited with the founding of religious institutions and the revival of Torah study in Tripoli, Libya, in the mid-sixteenth century, where he served as spiritual leader and dayan for more than three decades.
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Shimon Lavi authored a commentary on the Zohar titled Ketem Paz and the piyyut, "Bar Yochai", a kabbalistic hymn which became widely popular in the Jewish world.
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In 1549 Shimon Lavi set out to immigrate to Israel, but was kidnapped and held for ransom by "Arab bandits".
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Shimon Lavi was redeemed and came to Tripoli, where he found the community lacking spiritual guidance and decided to settle there instead.
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Shimon Lavi is credited with the founding of the Tripoli Jewish community's religious institutions, the revival of Torah study, and the establishment of takkanot.
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An outstanding kabbalist, Shimon Lavi incorporated the study of Jewish mystical texts into the community's daily ritual.
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Shimon Lavi fixed the prayer rite in Tripoli according to the Sephardi custom.
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Shimon Lavi served as a physician to the Turkish governor and represented the Jewish community to the ruling authorities.
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Shimon Lavi was said to be highly respected by the government ministers.
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Around 1570 Shimon Lavi authored a commentary on the Zohar.
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Additionally, Shimon Lavi wrote the commentary Bi'ur Millot Zarot she'b'Sefer HaZohar, which displays his mastery of Spanish and Arabic.
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Shimon Lavi wrote the Seder Tikkunei Kallah, readings for Shavuot night.
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Shimon Lavi sang the song both in Hebrew and in a Judeo-Arabic translation.