12 Sivan · Yahrzeit
Rabbi David Pardo
Rabbi David Samuel ben Jacob Pardo (1710–1792). He is the author of "Maskil Le-David" on Rashi, "Chasdei David" on Tosafot, and "Shoshanim Le-David." His son Avraham was married to the daughter of Rabbeinu Chida.
Yahrzeit - 12 Sivan
Place of burial - Har HaZeitim
Rabbi David Pardo, the renowned Italian rabbinic author and poet, was born in Venice. He left for a time for Sarajevo due to a dispute over an inheritance, and from there went to Split, in Dalmatia. From about 1738 he worked as a teacher of children, while at the same time studying under the local Rabbi Avraham David Papo. Eventually Rabbi Pardo was appointed rabbi of the city. From 1760 he served as rabbi of Sarajevo. From 1776 to 1782 he traveled through Eretz Yisrael, settling in Jerusalem, where he served as head of the Yeshiva Chesed Le-Avraham U-Vinyan Shlomo.
Rabbi Pardo was considered one of the greatest rabbis of Jerusalem. Among his numerous works, his series of commentaries and novellae on Tannaitic literature are especially original.
His first work was "Shoshanim Le-David" (Venice, 1752), a commentary on the Mishnah. The rather sharp language he used in the first part to criticize contemporary scholars caused friction between him and David Corinaldi and Masud Rokeach in Livorno. But after he softened his language in the second part and published an apology, reconciliation followed. Rabbi Pardo's "Chasdei David" (Livorno, 1776–90; Jerusalem, 1890) on the Tosefta is considered the most important commentary on this work (the section on Tohorot, whose manuscript is held in the National Library in Jerusalem, was never published). He completed the work in Jerusalem by his 68th birthday. Sections of it were published in an edition of the Talmud together with the text of the Tosefta. Similarly, his "Sifrei De-Vei Rav" (Salonika, 1799), which he began in 1786 and which was published by his son Avraham after his death, is the most important commentary on the Sifrei. In it he draws on the commentaries of Rabbi Hillel ben Eliakim, Rabbi Solomon ibn Ohana, and Rabbi Eliezer ibn Naum, all of which he had in manuscript.
His other works include "Michtam Le-David" (Salonika, 1772), halachic rulings and responsa; "Maskil Le-David" (Venice, 1761), a super-commentary on Rashi's commentary;
"Le-Menatzeach Le-David" (Salonika, 1765), on passages in the Talmud where alternative explanations are given; and "Mizmor Le-David" (Livorno, 1818), among others.
His son Rabbi Jacob Pardo became chief rabbi of Ragusa and died in Jerusalem. He was a well-known Talmudist and was well versed in Kabbalah. His main works were Kohelet Yaakov (Venice, 1784), a commentary on the early Prophets; Apei Zutrei (ibid., 1797), on Hilchot Ishut of the Shulchan Aruch, Even HaEzer; and Minchat Aharon (ibid., 1809), devoted mainly to the laws of prayer.
His second son, Isaac, was rabbi of Sarajevo, and his third son, Avraham, who married the daughter of Rabbeinu Chida, became head of the Yeshiva "Chesed Le-Avraham U-Vinyan Shlomo" after the passing of his father-in-law. Among Pardo's students was Shabtai ben Avraham Ventura, who succeeded him as rabbi of Split.
May the merit of the tzadik protect Am Yisrael!
(https://dailyzohar.com/tzadikim/395-Rabbi-Chaim-David-Samuel-Pardo)