Ir?q?, Shalom Ha-Kohen
IR?Q?, SHALOM HA-KOHEN
IR?Q?, SHALOM HA-KOHEN (al-Usta; 18th century), community leader in *Yemen. His family originated in *Egypt. He was appointed governor of the mint and he also supervised the collection of taxes and the royal properties at the courts of the Imam al-Mahd? and his successor Imam al-Mans?r (1731–61). During his period of office, the Jewish community enjoyed a brief period of peace and tranquility; this was due partly to his personality and status, and partly to his silencing slanderers by means of bribes. He built synagogues in several towns. The best known was the beautiful Kan?sat al-Usta synagogue in *San?a, the capital of Yemen, which was in use until the dissolution of the Yemenite community. He also made use of his political status to influence decisions in religious and communal affairs. The spread of the Sephardi version of prayer (Sh?m?) in the communities of Yemen was caused by his generous distribution of printed prayer books to replace the handwritten ma?zorim which were in use until then. ? Ir?q? lost his influence in 1761 when the new imam removed him from office, imprisoned him, and levied a heavy fine on him, while at the same time the Jewish community was attacked by the Muslims.
bibliography:
?. ?abashush, in: Sefunot, 2 (1958), 267–71; S. Geridi, Mi-Teiman le-?iyyon (1938), 129–31; A. Kare'a?, Sa'arat Teiman (1954), 16; M. Zadoc, Yehudei Teiman (1967), 75–6.
[Yehuda Ratzaby]