Obj. ID: 38040
Jewish printed books  Chupat Chatanim by Raphael ben Chizkiyahu Meldola, Livorno, 1797

This text was prepared by William Gross:

First edition. [19], 88, 88-111 ff., 8 vo., 138:94 mm.,
A comprehensive guide to the laws and rules of behavior for the bride and groom from engagement through matrimony.
R. Raphael Meldola, the Author, was a British rabbi and son of Moses Hezekiah Meldola (1725–1791). Raphael was born in Leghorn, received rabbinical ordination there from R. H. J. D. Azulai (Chidah) in 1796, became a dayyan in 1803, and in 1804/05 was appointed haham of the Sephardi community in London—an office vacant since the death of Moses Cohen d'Azevedo in 1784. Energetic and capable, he helped to reform the educational institutions of his community in the face of missionary activities and cooperated cordially with Solomon Hirschel, the Ashkenazi chief rabbi. On the other hand, his belligerent nature was responsible for periodic friction with the members of his community. Notwithstanding his imperfect knowledge of English he corresponded extensively with Christian scholars. Before leaving Leghorn, he had published there Huppat Hatanim (1797), a handbook on the laws of marital life. He also published sermons and memorial poems: part of his catechism Derekh Emunah (The Way of Faith) appeared with his English translation after his death (1848).
First edition of Chupat Chatanim (Marriage Manual) in Hebrew with Italian approbation. This work serves as a halachic manual to the laws of Nidah and Mikveh. It contains mathematical calculations pertaining to the volume of water contained by a mikveh. Raphael Meldola (1754-1828) served as rabbi of his native Livono, and subsequently Chacham of the Spanish and Porutguese Jews of England.
Raphael Meldola (1754 – 1 June 1828) was an English Rabbi. Born in Livorno, he died in London .
He was one of the most prominent members of the Meldola family. He received a thorough university training, both in theological and in secular branches, and displayed such remarkable talents that when only fifteen years old he was permitted to take his seat in the rabbinical college. He was preacher in Leghorn for some years, and in 1803 he obtained the title of rabbi.
In 1805 Meldola was elected haham of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews of Great Britain, and proved a worthy successor of Sasportas and Nieto. His name will ever be indissolubly associated with that of Bevis Marks Synagogue. Possessed of a remarkably virile mind, he was a dominant factor in the British Jewry of his generation. He was the author of Korban Minhah, Kuppat Hatanim (1796), and Derekh Emunah, published by his son after his death. He left several other works in manuscript. His scholarship attracted around him a circle in which were many of the most distinguished men of his day, including Benjamin Disraeli and Isaac D'Israeli; and it is noteworthy that he opposed the policy which produced the famous rupture between the latter and the mahamad. He maintained a literary correspondence with many of the most prominent Christian clergymen and scholars of his time; and his acquaintance with the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Canon of Windsor led to his being received by King George III.
Meldola married Stella Bolaffi (Abulafia), by whom he had four sons and four daughters.
His descendants include the chemist Raphael Meldola.