ר׳ עמרם קורח

ר׳ עמרם קורח (1871–1952), the last chief rabbi of Yemen’s Jewish community, was a judge, scribe, communal administrator and historian. Born in Sana’a to ר׳ יחיא קורח, he was orphaned at ten and continued his education under family and communal scholars. His Arabic literacy and legal training led to service as secretary of the rabbinical court under ר׳ סלימאן קארה. He administered the communal heqdesh treasury and headed the Al-Kessar synagogue. In 1932 he was appointed an assistant to ר׳ יחיא אל-אביץ׳; after the latter’s death in 1934 he became chief rabbi and head of the court. Severe conflict within Sana’a Jewry over the Zohar and communal authority led him to resign the chief office after roughly two years, though he continued adjudication, shechita supervision and liaison work with the imam’s government. In 1946 he became a principal intermediary with the Jewish Agency. On the eve of Yom Kippur 1950, during Operation On Eagles’ Wings, he immigrated with his family to Israel and settled in Jerusalem. His posthumously published סערת תימן, based partly on Sana’a court records, is a major chronicle of Yemenite Jewish institutions, customs and upheavals. He died in Jerusalem on 3 October 1952 and was buried in Sanhedria Cemetery.