Ovadiah of Bartenura was an Italian rabbi, banker, commentator on the Mishnah, and community leader. He studied under Maharik Kolon in Bologna. In 1485, upon the death of this wife, he began a two-and-a-half-year journey to the land of Israel. He visited many communities along the way and eventually settled in Jerusalem, where he quickly rose to prominence and labored unceasingly to restore Jewish communal life, both material and spiritual, and was largely successful in his efforts. He reestablished a chevrah kaddisha (Jewish burial society), in which he actively served, and a yeshiva, upon the arrival of learned Spanish exiles. He was recognized as a halakhic authority, was recognized as the chief rabbi by the Muslim authorities, succeeded in reducing the tax burden upon the community, and delivered his weekly Shabbat sermons in Hebrew and thereby revived its use. His commentary on Mishnah is basic, straightforward, and indispensable.
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