Graziadio (Hananel) Nepi (Hebrew: חננאל ניפי, romanized: Ḥananʼel Neppi; 1759 – January 18, 1836), also known by the acronymḤen (ח״ן),[1] was an Italian rabbi, Kabbalist, and physician.
Biography
Graziadio Nepi studied at Ferrara for twelve years under Rabbi Jacob Moses Ayash [he] and subsequently was himself the teacher of many disciples in his native city.[2] On account of his great Talmudic learning he was sent as deputy to the Assembly of Jewish Notables convened by Napoleon I at Paris in 1806.[3] Upon his return he was called to the congregation at Cento, where he held the position of rabbi until his death, his pupil Isaac Reggio [he] becoming his successor at Ferrara.[2]
Nepi, who lived an ascetic life, was one of the highest religious authorities of his time in Italy. Among his publications were Livyat Ḥen, a collection of the responsa which he sent to different rabbis, and Derushim, a collection of his sermons. His Zekher tsadikim li-verakhah, consisting of biographical and bibliographical sketches of rabbis and Jewish scholars, was intended to complete Azulai's Shem ha-gedolim but left unfinished. It was completed by M. S. Ghirondi under the title Toledot gedole Yisrael, and published by the latter's son (Triest, 1853).[4] A catalogue of his library was published in Lemberg in 1873.[2]
Selected publications
Shir le-ḥanokh bet ha-knesset be-ir Cento. Florence. 1827.