Raphael Berdugo

{{Short description|Moroccan rabbi and scholar (1747–1821)}}

{{Tone|date=May 2022}}

Raphael Berdugo ({{langx|he|רפאל בירדוגו}}{{ltr}}; Meknes in 1747 – 1821), son of Rabbi Mordecai Berdugo, was a Dayan, a scholar, and an influential Moroccan rabbi.Avioz, Michael, "R. Raphael Berdugo's Method of Reconciling Contradictions in the Bible", in: Review of Rabbinic Judaism, Volume 9, Number 1, Brill, 2006 , pp. 114-125(12)Issachar Ben-Ami, Saint veneration among the Jews in Morocco, Wayne State University Press, 1998, p.268

Berdugo was respected by his contemporaries; his decisions continue to be a source of inspiration to Moroccan rabbis. His peers regarded him as an excellent speaker with natural authority and he did not shirk from conflict with the notables. He did not limit himself to his role as dayan but was also a community activist. Berdugo led the community leaders to abandon their old customs and follow those of the Jews of Castile. He also introduced reforms in the laws of inheritance—for example, the inheritance of a husband and children in case of the death of a wife.Saul I. Aranov, A descriptive catalogue of the Bension collection of Sephardic manuscripts and texts, University of Alberta, 1979, p.33

Berdugo had several adversaries. One of them was Baruch Toledano. Their controversies were quite heated and have remained famous.{{Cite web |title=Tzadikim |url=https://dailyzohar.com/tzadikim/1099-Rabbi-Raphael-Berdugo |access-date=2023-12-11 |website=dailyzohar.com}}

Berdugo is listed as a saint in Culte des Saints et Pélerinages Judéo-Musulmans au Maroc. He married a daughter of the Mashbir and had four sons.{{Cite web |title=Tzadikim |url=https://dailyzohar.com/tzadikim/1099-Rabbi-Raphael-Berdugo |access-date=2023-12-11 |website=dailyzohar.com}}