Rosh Yeshiva of Porat Yosef
Chacham Ezra Attieh zt”l, also known as Rabbi Ezra Attiya, was born in Aleppo in 1885 and later made Jerusalem his home. From 1925 until his passing in 1970, he served as Rosh Yeshiva of Porat Yosef for forty-five years. His leadership helped shape a flourishing center of Sephardic Torah scholarship and nurtured generations of talmidei chachamim.
A life of kedushah and humility
He is remembered with profound reverence as a man of kedushah — holiness — whose greatness in Torah was joined to humility, yirat Shamayim (reverence for Heaven), and refined character. Accounts of his life describe personal simplicity and a deep concern for others. His example reminds us that Torah greatness is expressed not only in knowledge, but also in how one treats another person.
A teacher who cared for every student
For Chacham Ezra Attieh, teaching was a sacred responsibility. He guided students in careful understanding of Gemara and halacha, alongside mussar and the cultivation of good character. Published recollections describe his fatherly concern for students’ wellbeing, especially those facing poverty, and his determination to help them remain in Torah learning.
Disciples who carried his Torah onward
Among his distinguished students were Chacham Ben Zion Abba Shaul zt”l, Chacham Ovadia Yosef zt”l, Chacham Yehuda Tzadka zt”l, Chacham Mordechai Eliyahu zt”l, and Chacham Baruch Ben Haim zt”l. These are examples, not a complete roll of his students. Through their teaching, halachic leadership, and service to communities, his influence reached far beyond the walls of Porat Yosef.
An enduring Torah legacy
Chacham Ben Zion Abba Shaul carried this tradition of deep learning, reverence for Heaven, and responsibility for students into his own teaching and the works of Ohr LeTzion. Honoring his teacher’s memory means valuing Torah, practicing kindness, and helping the next generation learn with dignity. Supporting Torah learning at Ohr LeTzion is one way to continue that spirit today.
Biographical sources
