Solomon David Sassoon

Solomon David Sassoon (1915–1985) was an educator, Rabbi, philanthropist, fundraiser, and collector of Jewish manuscripts.

Early life

Solomon David Sassoon was born in August 1915 in London. He is a member of the wealthy Sassoon family. His father was David Solomon Sassoon (1880–1942), the renowned collector of Hebrew manuscripts from Baghdad. His paternal grandmother was Flora Sassoon. As a result, his paternal great-grandfather was Albert Abdullah David Sassoon (1818–1896), and his paternal great-great-grandfather was David Sassoon (1792–1864), a leading trader of cotton and opium who served as the treasurer of Baghdad between 1817 and 1829.

He was tutored by Rabbi Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler, who taught him the Talmud.

Career

He made original contributions to linguistic analysis, philosophy, physiology and Biblical criticism. In 1953 and again in 1964, he declined requests to put his name forward as a candidate for the position of Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel. His varied interests and literary output were maintained until his death.

Death and legacy

Solomon David Sassoon built a library in Letchworth, England, to house his father's collections of Jewish manuscripts and incunabula. Some of these holdings were later auctioned by Sotheby's of London in Zurich and in New York, between the years 1975 - 1994, in order to satisfy the Sassoon estate's British tax obligations. Today, what remains of this priceless collection has been transferred to Toronto University, in Canada. He died in May 1985. His son, Isaac S.D. Sassoon, is also a rabbi.