Hacham Abraham Bechor Evlagon


A Short Tribute

Hacham Abraham Bechor Evlagon was born to Carla Arditti and Hacham David Evlagon in Kushta (now Istanbul), in 1846. He was ordained to the rabbinate in 1869 and served also as a scribe and shochet, and was a gifted illustrator. In 1876 he moved to serve in Crete and took on the responsibility for its community. As its spiritual leader, he was the community's representative which, at times, placed him at personal risk. During the First World War and following the Greco-Turkish war he undertook the religious education of children of refugees and founded a school for them. He had full mastery of several languages and an extensive and rich education. He owned a large library and received many of the numerous Jewish newspapers common in his day.

Rabbi Abraham Bechor Evlagon lived in Chania, the capitol of Crete. He married Bathsheba Careo and they had four sons and a daughter: Jacob, Nissim David, Shalom, Judah and Victoria.

His only published work Nichnas Yayin, deals with study content fitting for a person of seventy years of age and has a photograph of him; it was published in 1912. He wrote an essay entitled Yayin HaRekakh, on the history of blood libels over several centuries, up to the Beilis libel.

Hacham Abraham Bechor Ivlagon passed away at a ripe age on 2 Cheshvan 5693 (1933).

A few quotes from the Rabbi on 'Israel and the Nations' in which he teaches how he extended his hand towards non-Jews to help meet their needs

I have extended my hand not only towards our brothers in distress but also towards those not of the Covenant in order to help them meet their needs. I did so with Nikephoros the Despot of the Greek Orthodox Church, who was left destitute after escaping from the fire set to his palace. I supported him with all my might and took him into my home until the furor passed. During the thirty days of his stay under my roof, messages were sent to him by Consul Rousso, inviting him to come to stay at his abode for respite. He replied: The honorable sire has been preceded by the rabbi whose mercy and faithfulness have been steadfast since the beginning of the revolution, and I will never forget him.

Bracha Rivlin, Rabbi Abraham Bechor Evlagon and His Writings on Crete and its Jews, Pa'amim 39, p. 128 – 129, Ben Zvi Institute, 1989