Hiyya Rofe

Hiyya Rofe was a prominent rabbi in Safed, where he played a significant role in the Jewish community. His education was rooted in the study of Talmud under the guidance of Solomon Sagis, while he also delved into the mystical aspects of Cabala with Hayyim Vital. This comprehensive foundation in Jewish scholarship ultimately led to his ordination through the traditional system of "semikah," which had been reintroduced in Palestine by Jacob Berab.

Hiyya Rofe's contributions to Jewish literature are notable, despite the majority of his works being lost over time. One of his notable endorsements was given to "Be'er Sheba'," a work by Issachar Baer Eylenburg, in 1612. His surviving writings were compiled and published by his son, Meïr Rofe, in a collection titled "Ma'aseh Ḥiyya." This compilation includes novellæ on various Talmudic treatises and twenty-seven responsa, which were later revised and prefaced by Moses Zacuto. Through these works, Hiyya Rofe's legacy continues to be felt in the realm of Jewish scholarship and study.