Haim Palachi

Haim Palachi (Hebrew: חיים פלאג'י Yiddish: חיים פאלאדזשי; Acronym: MaHaRHaF or HaVIF) (January 28, 1788– February 10, 1868) was a Jewish-Turkish chief rabbi of Smyrna (İzmir) and author in Ladino and Hebrew. His titles included Hakham Bashi and Gaon. He was the father of grand rabbis Abraham Palacci and Isaac Palacci (Rahamim Nissim Palacci) and rabbi Joseph Palacci. He was a member of the Pallache family.

(Alternative spellings include: Hayim Palachi, Hayyim Pallache, Hayyim Palache, Haim Palacci, Hayim Palacci, Hayyim Palaggi (and Falaji), Chaim Palagi, and Haim Palatchi.) He died on 17 Shevat 5628, according to the Jewish calendar. His mother's name was Kaden.

Pallache was born in İzmir, Turkey, then known internationally as Smyrna, part of the Ottoman Empire. His parents were Jacob Pallache (a rabbi and kabbalist) and Kali Kaden Hazan. His maternal grandfather was Joseph Raphael ben Hayyim Hazzan (1741–1820), chief rabbi of İzmir. He studied under his grandfather and also Isaac ben Elyakim Gatigno.

By 1813, aged 25, Palacci was already a rabbi. In 1828, aged 40, he became head of the Bet Yaakov rabbinical seminary.

In 1837 or 1838, he became head of a religious court and then became dayan (jurist), marbiš torah (teacher of Torah), and rav korel (head rabbi).

By 1854 or 1856, he had become Hakham Bashi or Chief Rabbi of Smyrna, appointed by Sultan Abdülmecid I during the Tanzimat period. He served as chief rabbi until his death in 1868.

In 1864, he received the award of the Mecidiye Order, third class.

In 1867, he received a Greek Orthodox delegation: