R. Israel Jacob Algazi (1680-1756) was born in Izmir and studied there under R. Chaim Abulafia and R. Yitzchak Rapaport (author of Batei Kehunah). He settled in Jerusalem in 1735 where he studied in Beth El, the celebrated Yeshiva reserved for Kabbalists. Thereafter R. Algazi was appointed Rishon LeTzion, Chief Rabbi of the Sephardic community of Eretz Israel.