Mordechai HaKohen of Safed

Mordechai HaKohen of Safed (1523–1598) was a scholar and kabbalist who flourished in the second half of the sixteenth century in Safed. He was a pupil of the famous kabbalist Israel di Curiel, and a contemporary of Joseph di Trani. Mordechai wrote an allegoric-kabalistic commentary on the Pentateuch, entitled Sifte Kohen. He had to leave Safed due to financial hardships and took up the position of rabbi of Aleppo, Syria in 1570.^[1]

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Isidore Singer and Jacob Zallel Lauterbach (1901–1906). "Mordechai ha-Kohen of Safed". In Singer, Isidore; et al. (eds.). The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls.Jewish Encyclopedia bibliography: Azulai, Shem ha-Gedolim, s.v.; Steinschneider, Cat. Bodl. col. 1669.