SHALAL (SHOLAL), ISAAC HA-KOHEN:
Head ("nagid") of the community of Cairo, Egypt, in succession to his uncle Nathan ha-Kohen Shalal; died, according to Grätz ("Gesch." 3d ed., ix. 496), at Jerusalem 1525. The appointment of "dayyanim" being one of his functions, he selected them from among deserving Spanish fugitives, and one of these appointments gave rise to much correspondence. He had made a vow that he would become a Nazarite, like Samson, if he were compelled to nominate a certain man. But as he could find no one more competent than the man referred to, he regretted his vow; responsa on the subject were addressed to him by Elijah Mizraḥi, Jacob Berab, and Jacob b. Ḥabib. Isaac Shalal was the last nagid; for Salim I., having conquered Egypt, abolished the office. Isaac then (c. 1517) removed to Jerusalem. In 1514 the community of Jerusalem sent its statutes to him for his approbation, which he signed, together with his pupil David ibn Abi Zimra. See
- Conforte, Ḳore ha-Dorot, p. 31b;
- Zunz, G. S. i. 180;
- Steinschneider, in Oẓar Neḥmad, ii. 149-152;
- Grätz, Gesch. 3d ed., ix. 17, 19, 25, 496;
- Azulai, Shem ha-Gedolim, s.v. David b. Zimra and Joseph Caro;
- A. L. Frumkin, Eben Shemu'el, pp. 17 et seq., Wilna, 1874.
