The Mystery of Flora Sassoon: The Rothschild of the East

In the writings of the esteemed Ben Ish Chai, "Amrei Binah," there is a fascinating riddle with the solution consisting of four letters: F-l-o-r-a. Who was Flora, and why did the Ben Ish Chai dedicate a riddle to her in his book?

Flora Sassoon's name translates to "flower" in feminine form. Her English name was Flora. She was born in India in 1859 to the Sassoon family, which was part of Baghdad's Jewish community that migrated to India after the British conquest, thriving in their business pursuits there.

Flora was the eldest of 12 siblings in the Gabbay family. She became widowed at a young age when her husband, Solomon Sassoon, passed away and went on to manage a global business empire. Flora was a financial genius and a master of human relations, fluent in multiple languages, and engaged in international trade. A significant portion of the trade between India and Britain was conducted by her companies.

In 1907, she established the first Jewish hospital in London with her personal funds and headed its board until her last day. Upon hearing that the renowned Jewish physician, Dr. Waldemar Haffkine, was conducting experiments to develop a cure for the cholera bacterium, she funded his research. Ultimately, Haffkine succeeded in finding a treatment for this devastating disease that had taken countless lives.

Despite her success, Flora remained humble. She donated enormous sums from her wealth to Jewish institutions worldwide and earned the nickname "The Rothschild of the East." Her father hired rabbis to teach her Hebrew and Jewish studies from a young age, and she sought the counsel of great scholars throughout her life.

In the responsa literature of the Ben Ish Chai, Rabbi Isaac Nissim—who later became the Chief Rabbi of Israel—and the Rishon LeZion Rabbi Jacob Saul Elyashar, one can find responses addressed to her. Rabbi Isaac Nissim wrote to her, "I have been asked by the renowned lady, the distinguished Rabbanit Flora (may she live)... And this is her inquiry..." (Responsa "Yayin HaTov," Siman 43). Her inquiry reveals Flora's profound Torah knowledge, as she wrote in Talmudic Aramaic. It is also said that she engaged in lengthy discussions with the saintly Maharshal Alfranderi, Chief Rabbi of Syrian Jews, who admired her wisdom and knowledge.

During her travels, from the East to Western Europe, she always had a Jewish butcher with her entourage to ensure that she and her companions could eat only strictly kosher meat.

Flora passed away in 1936, and Rabbi Isaac Herzog eulogized her, saying, among other things: "A living wellspring of Torah, fear of Heaven, understanding, kindness, and philanthropy... From her wonderful well, Israel could draw abundant encouragement and noble inspiration." Her tombstone bears testament to the humility and simplicity of one who possessed both Torah and greatness, without letting her heart grow proud. She was buried on the Mount of Olives among righteous men and women. May her memory be a blessing.