David Pardo

Rabbi David Pardo, an 18th-century Italian rabbi and liturgical poet who led several Sephardic communities, is best known for his commentaries. His first work was a commentary on the Mishnah (Shoshanim LeDavid). He also wrote on other classic works often neglected by other scholars, such as the Tosefta (Chasdei David) and the Sifrei (Sifrei DeVei Rav), as well as on Rashi’s commentary (Maskil LeDavid). Rabbi Pardo’s writings demonstrate critical thinking on his part and as a value he imparted to his students, whose efforts at legal analysis he encouraged and quoted in his own responsa.