Religionמאיר מאזוז

Meir Mazuz

Meir Mazuz was a Tunisian-born Haredi rabbi in Israel who headed the Kisse Rahamim yeshiva and was the spiritual leader of the Yachad party.

1945 to 2025Heading the Kisse Rahamim yeshivaThe Tunisian method of Talmud studySpiritual leader of Yachad

Born: 27 March 1945, Tunis
Died: 19 April 2025, Petah Tikva
Occupation: rabbi
Party: Yahad

Meir Mazuz was born in 1945 in Tunis

Meir Nissim Mazuz was born in Tunis in 1945. His father, Rabbi Matsliah Mazuz, was a judge and founded the Kisse Rahamim yeshiva in Tunis. He studied with Rabbi Yitzhak Bouhnik and Rabbi Yosef Sousou HaCohen, and at 17 began teaching at a Chabad yeshiva in Tunis.

After his father was murdered in 1971, he and his brothers Tsemah and Rahamim moved to Israel. That same year they reestablished Kisse Rahamim in Bnei Brak. In 1977 the brothers founded the Rav Matsliah Institute, which publishes prayer books and works of Sephardi rabbis.

He taught the Tunisian method of Talmud study and stressed Hebrew grammar and precise pronunciation in prayer. From 2015 his weekly Saturday night lesson was broadcast live on Kol Barama radio. In 2014 he became the spiritual leader of the Yachad party, and he later backed other parties as well.

He drew criticism for statements on homosexuality and, in 2023, for remarks supporting Baruch Goldstein. He died on 19 April 2025. His brother Tsemah succeeded him as head of the yeshiva.